The CBI claimed that chats, PDF documents, photographs of the question paper, and other digital evidence was recovered during the forensic examination of the mobile phones seized during the investigation. It said that evidence helped reconstruct the series of events that led to the leak of the examination material from the National Testing Agency (NTA) subject experts to intermediaries and ultimately to candidates, reported news agency ANI.
Event Context
The NEET UG paper was held on May 3, but was cancelled days later due to paper leak allegations. A retest was conducted on June 21. However, several students died by suicide due to the paper leak.
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NEET exam is one of toughest competitive exams in India and is a national-level entrance examination for admission to undergraduate and graduate medical courses. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency.
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The evidence also points that before reaching the students, the leaked question paper went through several intermediaries, instead of from NTA experts straight to students.
Team Analysis
The agency has considered these recoveries as corroborative evidence of the alleged commercial arrangement linked to the leak.
As many as 13 accused have been charged by the CBI, including three NTA-appointed subject experts, under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
CBI maintains that the electronic trail is a key piece of evidence against the accused.
(With inputs from ANI)
source
Before reaching candidates, the confidential material went through subject experts, private brokers and operators, according to the probe.
Evidence such as call details records, extraction reports of mobile phones and forensic analysis of device seized during probe helped to corroborate the statements made by witnesses and how the accused communicated amongst themselves.
CBI claimed that the evidence recovered matched the timeline of events as described by the witnesses.
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The investigation also made other shocking revelations into how securities were kept for payments guaranteed after the delivery of the leaked paper. This included blank signed cheques, original education certificate and other such documents.
