NEET-UG controversy: CBI team arrives in Patna for investigation
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A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team from Delhi arrived at the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) office of the Bihar Police in Patna to investigate alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG medical entrance exam, officials reported.
Previously, the EOU had been handling the investigation until the Central government directed the CBI to take over. The EOU has so far arrested 18 individuals related to the case.
"The CBI officers are collecting evidence related to the case from the EOU," an official stated.
The CBI had registered an FIR on June 23 concerning the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exam held on May 5. This action was taken following a reference from the Education Ministry amidst nationwide protests and student litigations.
During its investigation, the EOU gathered various pieces of evidence, including fragments of a burnt question paper recovered from a house in Patna, mobile phones, SIM cards, laptops, post-dated cheques, and reference question papers provided by the National Testing Agency (NTA), according to an EOU officer.
"All those arrested are in judicial custody in Patna. The CBI team may obtain transit remand from a local court to transfer them to Delhi for further interrogation," the officer added.
The CBI is expected to file multiple FIRs related to the case, including those concerning the destruction of evidence. Additionally, the agency may initiate disproportionate assets (DA) cases against some of the accused who are public servants.
One such DA case may be filed against Sikander Prasad Yadvendu, a junior engineer in the Danapur Town Council, who reportedly acquired substantial assets beyond his known sources of income. Yadvendu, originally from Samastipur, has been identified as the prime suspect.
"He has a history of criminal involvement. Before becoming a junior engineer in 2012, he worked as a contractor in Ranchi and was implicated in a ₹3 crore LED scam, for which he served a jail sentence," the officer noted.