CBI arrests two from Patna in NEET-UG case for ‘arranging accommodation for examinees’

Prakash’s wife Archana said, “The CBI called me around 1.30 pm to say that my husband has been arrested. He is a social worker who would often help people with making stay arrangements for students. I had heard someone asking him on the phone to make arrangements for four-five students. We had no idea about the enormity of trouble he has now landed in.”

The CBI had on Wednesday also tried to track the prime accused Sanjiv Mukhiya, who has been absconding from his Nalanda village. The agency suspects Mukhiya has fled to Nepal.

The agency has also received more information on another key accused, Sikandar Yadavendu, who has already been arrested by the Bihar police. Yadavendu had allegedly introduced the four examinees to ‘setters’ Nitish Kumar and Amit Anand.

On Sunday, the National Testing Agency (NTA) had sent show-cause notices threatening debarment to 17 candidates in Patna, based on the report sent to the Centre by the Bihar Police’s Economic Offences Unit.

After the CBI registered the criminal case, the Bihar and Gujarat governments issued notifications to transfer their local NEET-UG “paper leak” cases to the central agency.

On Saturday, the Education Ministry had announced an expert committee headed by former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan to look into exam reforms and review the NTA’s functioning. The Ministry also removed Subodh Kumar Singh as NTA chief on Saturday.