A recent development in the ongoing investigation into the NEET paper leak case has revealed a Delhi connection, adding a new dimension to the controversy that has shaken the education sector. This revelation comes in the wake of a case filed against two Maharashtra school teachers, Sanjay Tukaram Jadhav and Jalil Umarkhan Pathan, for their alleged involvement in the NEET paper leak.
The First Information Report (FIR) was registered in Maharashtra’s Latur, highlighting the seriousness of the issue. Both Jadhav and Pathan, who taught in Zilla Parishad schools and ran private coaching centers in Latur, were apprehended by the Nanded Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) recently. While Pathan was arrested after intense questioning, Jadhav is currently evading arrest.
What makes this development even more significant is the discovery of admit cards and WhatsApp chats on the phones of these individuals, linking them to a Delhi-based individual named Gangadhar. Gangadhar facilitated contacts between Jadhav, Pathan, and aspiring students who were willing to pay substantial sums for guaranteed success in the NEET exams.
The FIR filed by Maharashtra police not only names Gangadhar but also includes Iranna Kongalwar, a trainer at a coaching institute in Nanded, on charges of cheating and criminal conspiracy. The severity of the situation prompted the government to hand over the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure the interests of students are protected.
The CBI’s investigation now extends beyond the NEET paper leak to encompass irregularities in UGC-NET exams, including the sale of leaked papers on the dark net. In response to these challenges, the government has enacted stringent laws aimed at curbing malpractices in competitive examinations, with penalties of up to ₹1 crore and 10 years of imprisonment for offenders.
Prior to this, Bihar Police had already arrested four individuals who confessed to leaking NEET UG question papers before the exam. The focus now shifts to investigating ‘solver gangs’ involved in selling leaked papers and providing proxy candidates, raising concerns about the integrity of competitive exams and the measures needed to safeguard their credibility.
Sources By Agencies
