Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma has implicated his predecessor, Tejashwi Yadav, in connection with the recent NEET paper leak scandal. Sharma’s comments come amidst ongoing investigations by the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar, which has suggested a potential breach in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) examination process.
On May 5, the EOU’s probe pointed towards a suspected paper leak, sparking controversy and political finger-pointing. Reports have emerged indicating that individuals involved in the alleged leak were accommodated at a government guest house in Patna. Addressing these claims, Sharma stated, “I am gathering details. Those apprehended at the NHAI guest house are linked to Pritam, who is allegedly connected to former Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav. We’re collecting comprehensive information. Due to the election period, our efforts were delayed. We will thoroughly investigate and hold all culprits accountable… We will also clarify which officials utilized the guest house. I have issued warnings within my department and will take necessary actions to uncover who authorized the bookings. This matter is significant, and as previously stated, the RJD’s tendency to foster criminal activities will be exposed in a high-level inquiry.”
Reacting to Sharma’s allegations, RJD national spokesperson Subodh Kumar Mehta criticized the Deputy CM’s remarks. Mehta urged reliance on the EOU’s findings rather than speculative media reports, stating, “Bihar Deputy CM Sharma should refrain from making baseless statements. The NDA must explain how Sikandar Yaduvanshi, the main accused in the NEET case, secured a junior engineer position in 2012 and was later transferred to the town planning department in Danapur in 2021. Sharma’s accusations against our leader are unfounded.”
The EOU’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), which assumed control of the investigation from Patna police last month, has uncovered admit cards, post-dated cheques, and certificates from multiple candidates involved in the scam. An EOU official revealed, “Among the 13 arrested, four are NEET candidates. The rest include their parents and members of an organized inter-state gang. This gang allegedly gathered 35 candidates at a school in the Ramakrishna Nagar police station area for a mock exam and reportedly received the NEET question paper with answers.”
The ongoing investigation aims to unravel the full extent of the scandal and hold all responsible parties accountable.
