The Patna High Court has granted custody of 13 individuals to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the NEET-UG paper leak case. These individuals were previously arrested by Bihar police. The CBI sought custody to further interrogate them and confront them with key suspect Rockey, alias Rakesh Ranjan, who was apprehended earlier.
Initially, the CBI’s request for custody was denied by the Exclusive Magistrate, CBI, Patna, citing statutory limitations on police custody periods. However, the CBI appealed this decision in the High Court, arguing that it needed to examine the suspects, who had only been in state police custody for a brief period.
The High Court upheld the CBI’s plea, directing the Exclusive Magistrate to transfer custody of the accused to the CBI immediately. This decision allows the CBI to hold the accused for further investigation, which is crucial in light of the seriousness of the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination.
The CBI is investigating several aspects of the NEET-UG examination following allegations of paper leaks and impersonation of candidates. Multiple FIRs have been registered across different states, including Bihar, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra. The agency’s investigation, initiated by a reference from the Union Education Ministry, aims to comprehensively probe these irregularities.
NEET-UG is a national-level examination conducted by the National Testing Agency for admissions to medical, dental, AYUSH, and related courses in both government and private institutions. This year, the exam was conducted on May 5 across numerous centers in India and abroad, with over 23 lakh candidates appearing.
The CBI’s efforts have resulted in significant arrests across various states, with ongoing efforts to ensure justice and maintain the integrity of the examination process.
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