Patna : Sanjeev Mukhiya, the prime suspect in the NEET paper leak case, was arrested late Thursday by the Special Task Force (STF) of Patna. Mukhiya, who had been absconding since the leak of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) paper on May 5, 2024, was arrested after nearly 11 months on the run. A reward of Rs 3 lakh had been offered for his capture.
The investigation into the leak, which affected thousands of students, led authorities to suspect Mukhiya’s central role in orchestrating the scandal. On May 11, 2024, six individuals, including Mukhiya’s relative “Chintu,” were arrested in Deoghar, Jharkhand. Chintu reportedly received the NEET question paper and its answers via WhatsApp, which were then printed at a Wi-Fi printer located in Patna’s Learn and Play School. Over 25 students at the school were allegedly coached to memorize the paper ahead of the exam.
Mukhiya, a 51-year-old resident of Nagarnausa village in Bihar’s Nalanda district, has long been suspected of involvement in exam paper leaks. Known locally as “Lutan Mukhiya,” his criminal activities date back to 2010 when he was accused of helping students cheat using Bluetooth devices. Mukhiya’s name has also surfaced in several other exam frauds, including the 2016 Bihar constable recruitment paper leak and the ongoing Bihar Teacher Recruitment Examination (BPSC) case. His son, Shivkumar, a doctor, is currently incarcerated in connection with the latter case.
Before the NEET exam, Mukhiya had been working as a technical assistant at Nursarai Garden College in Nalanda. However, he mysteriously disappeared shortly after the exam, leaving behind an unexplained absence from May 6. College officials later discovered he had been admitted to a hospital, a claim Mukhiya confirmed in a letter dated May 18, 2024, citing sudden health issues. By mid-May, the college had officially reported him missing.
Mukhiya’s arrest marks the end of a lengthy manhunt, with the STF and local authorities conducting raids across multiple districts in Bihar and neighbouring states. The state government had previously announced the reward in an effort to apprehend him and dismantle the extensive exam mafia network he allegedly leads.
The scope of Mukhiya’s criminal activities extends far beyond NEET, with authorities linking him to a series of high-profile exam leaks across India. His gang is suspected of operating in seven states, including Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. The gang is believed to be responsible for leaking papers for various competitive exams, such as the UP RO/ARO recruitment, UP Constable recruitment, Bihar Teacher recruitment, and others. As soon as recruitment notifications are published, the gang allegedly moves quickly to ensure the exam papers are leaked.
Authorities are now focused on dismantling the broader network of which Mukhiya is believed to be the mastermind. While his arrest is a significant development, the investigation continues as law enforcement pursues other members of the syndicate.
