The Economic Offences Unit of the Bihar Police, which is investigating the alleged NEET-UG paper leak case, claimed to have obtained reference question papers of the test conducted by NTA. They plan to compare these with documents recovered from a flat in Patna during a search operation last month. The EOU is also exploring the possibility of conducting narco analysis and brain mapping tests of some arrested suspects in the case, as indicated by state police sources. They also mentioned that the Enforcement Directorate might investigate the money laundering aspect of the alleged irregularities in the NEET exam conducted by the National Testing Agency in May. “We had requested the NTA for the reference question papers after we began the probe last month. Finally, they did the needful. We will tally these papers with partially burnt papers seized from a Patna flat last month. This exercise is likely to be done before a forensic examination of such documents,” said an EOU source. Top officials of the EOU are likely to visit Delhi to discuss certain aspects of the ongoing probe with the senior officials of the Union Education Ministry and other concerned wings.
“Based on EOU’s FIR, the Enforcement Directorate may probe the matter under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The central agency is expected to identify proceeds of crime and initiate proceedings to attach properties belonging to the accused or suspects,” said another source of the Economic Offences Unit.
Former director general of police (DGP), Bihar, Abhayanand, told PTI, “There is no doubt that grave offences have been committed in the NEET-UG 2024 exam. Prima facie, it appears that the paper was leaked… evidence collected so far is also suggestive of the paper leak. The case must be probed under the provisions of the PMLA as black money is involved in it.”
It is also learned that certain arrested accused in the case are “providing conflicting statements or changing their statements during interrogation”, according to EOU sources. Investigators are considering brain mapping and narco-analysis tests to provide fresh leads. The EOU had last month arrested 13 people as part of its investigation into the alleged paper leak in the NEET-UG 2024 exam.