The Centre has handed over the probe in the NEET-UG paper-leak case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The Ministry of Education (MoE) on Saturday evening said that the matter was being handed over the CBI for a comprehensive investigation after allegations of cheating, impersonation, and other malpractices were reported in the exam.

“Certain cases of alleged irregularities cheating / impersonation / malpractices have been reported. For transparency on the conduct of the examination process, the Ministry of Education, Government of India after a review has decided to entrust the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for comprehensive investigation,” said the MoE in a statement.

For weeks, it has been alleged that the question paper of the NEET-UG exam was leaked. Other irregularities have also been mentioned. Now, the CBI has been entrusted with the task of finding out who leaked the paper and who accessed it illegally.

The NEET-UG exam has been under the scanner as it has been alleged that the question paper was leaked ahead of the exam. Other irregularities have also been alleged in the holding of the exam.

Earlier in the day, the Centre also postponed the NEET-PG exam. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a statement that the exam was being postponed in the wake of “recent incidents of allegations regarding the integrity of certain competitive examinations”.

The announcement of NEET-UG’s postponement came shortly after the Centre sacked the National Testing Agency (NTA) chief Subodh Kumar. The NTA is the government agency that had organised the NEET-UG exam which is now under the scanner for a host of irregularities.

Earlier this week, the NTA had also announced the postponement of the UGC-NET and CSIR-UGC-NET exam. The Centre said that the UGC-NET was being cancelled after it was learnt that the paper had been leaked on the dark net and was being circulated on the messaging application app Telegram. As for the CSIR-UGC-NET exam, the government said the reasons were logistical issues.

Link to article – 

CBI’s latest assignment: Who passed NEET-UG with leaked paper and how they got it