In a fresh twist, the 2024 National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak scam, the accused, has confessed to the police that at least some candidates obtained the question papers one day prior to the examination. They had shelled out around Rs 30-32 lakh for this privilege.
The shocking revelation was made by four persons arrested by the Bihar Police, among them Anurag Yadav, who was a candidate for NEET, and they also reported an uncle, Sikandar Yadavendu, a junior engineer at the Danapur Municipal Council, along with two other suspected kingpins of the leak, Nitish Kumar and Amit Anand.
They admitted having got the question papers a day before the NEET, which was conducted on May 5.
Anurag Yadav stated that his uncle Sikander Yadavendu arranged the NEET papers in advance for him.
"I was preparing for NEET at Allen Institute in Kota (Rajasthan). My uncle, Sikander Yadavendu, called me to Patna and had me meet Amit Anand and Nitish Kumar, to whom I was given some questions and answer keys of the exam. I was told to memorize the answer. And when I sat for the test the next day, it was with the same set of questions which were given to me on May 4. But after the test, the police took me under arrest," he said.
Sikander Yadavendu held that he had amply been apprised by Amit Anand and Nitish Kumar of the leak of the papers well before their occurrence.
"I was told by Amit and Nitish that the NEET question papers would be leaked and it would cost about Rs 30-32 Lakh. I agreed and told them about four students -- Ayush Kumar, Anurag Yadav, Shivanand Kumar and Abhishek Kumar. On May 4, I took all four students to a place where aspirants were already cramming up answers for all the questions,".
Here, Yadavendu revealed his conspiracy on paper leakage, "Due to my greed, instead of the agreed Rs 40 lakhs, I extorted more money from those students, and the police arrested me later."
Both Nitish Kumar and Amit Anand, in their police statements, admitted they were the persons behind the paper leak and have shared their mode of operation to Yadavendu, ultimately leading to their arrest.
The duo further told the police in a statement, "After Yadavendu was arrested, he pointed his fingers at us. The police also did a raid at the place from where the students were given the leaked papers. They also found the remaining pieces of the burnt question papers.".
On May 5, more than 24 lakh aspirants appeared for the NEET for admission to medical colleges. The results, declared a month ahead of schedule on June 5, were marred by allegations of a paper leak and awarding of grace marks to more than 1,500 candidates.
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