NEET-UG Probe: Bihar EOU Makes Breakthrough, CBI Takes Over

NTA officials did not follow protocols due to which they failed to notice the tempering done in boxes in which the question papers were transported

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

The investigation in the NEET-UG 2024 medical entrance examination that was being conducted by the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar has revealed breaches in the prescribed security standards set by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for handling exam papers which led to the question paper being leaked before the exam.

The EOU, which on Sunday handed over its investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has stated that officials and staff at NTA responsible for ensuring security protocols related to the exam that includes 'transportation, storage, hand over and takeover of the question papers' did not followed these protocols due to which they failed to catch the tempering done in boxes where the questions papers were transported and the envelope in which they were to be further distributed at the examination centres.

The NTA DG Subodh Kumar Singh 1997 batch Indian Administrative Service Officer of Chhattisgarh cadre has removed from the said post on Sunday and put on compulsory wait.

The EOU was on the verge of finding out the exact point of breach during the chain of custody related to the question papers, but it could not complete its investigation as now the CBI will handle it. In a related incident, the CBI team that had gone to Kasiyadih village, Rajauli police station, Nawada district to carry out investigation in the case was attacked by the villagers after which the local police had to send reinforcements to rescue the CBI officers.