CBI arrests three in NEET-UG exam cheating case

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested three persons for allegedly attempting to secure seats for their candidates in medical colleges through the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

The move came after the top investigating agency received a complaint from the CBSE regarding the illegal activity. The accused were identified as Mohit Kumar of Uttar Pradesh's Khurja district, Manoj Kumar Sikka of Ludhiana, Punjab, and Ashwani Tomar of Akruti Education, West Patel Nagar. The CBSE alleged that the trio conspired with "unknown candidates" to get them seats in medical colleges using "illegal, unfair and unscrupulous means" in NEET-UG, "thereby depriving the deserving ones".

In the complaint to CBI, CBSE claimed that Mohit Kumar had been acting as a tout and help the prospective students and their parents in clearing the NEET exam for securing admissions in various governments and private colleges across India. "We have arrested them recently the investigation is going on we have found their movement in Delhi, Khurja (Uttar Pradesh) and Ludhiana (Punjab)," said the officer.

Kumar operated allegedly in connivance with one Arti and Ashwani Tomar who run an agency at Delhi's West Patel Nagar for providing consultancy to the prospective candidates appearing in NEET. Manoj Sikka, who has a NEET consultancy agency in Ludhiana, was also in touch with Kumar.

CBI recovered various incriminating documents including original educational certificates, admit cards of prospective candidates of NEET examination, blank amount filled cheques, rubber stamps of some educational institutions. "The original mark sheets were of those candidates whom they had lured. The case is in the initial stage we are investigating further to known about their modus operandi," said the official.