Patna: The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police has taken alleged examination racket operative Sanjeev Mukhiya alias Lutan Mukhiya on remand in connection with a nearly nine-year-old case involving an alleged attempt to access the NEET question paper before it reached an examination centre in 2017.
The action comes after a court order, following which the EOU took Mukhiya into custody from Beur Central Jail and questioned him in connection with the case registered at Patna’s Patrakar Nagar police station in 2017.
The case dates back to the NEET-UG examination held on May 7, 2017. Mukhiya, his son Dr Shiv Kumar and several others were named in the case.
According to police, an interstate examination racket was allegedly attempting to gain access to the question paper before the examination. The police had received information about the alleged plan around two hours before the examination began and subsequently intervened.
Police had intercepted vehicle carrying question papers
According to the case details, the alleged racket had attempted to manipulate the transportation of question papers from banks to examination centres.
Police alleged that members of the network had tried to collude with the driver of a vehicle transporting the question papers so that the papers could be accessed before reaching the examination centre.
Following the information received by Patrakar Nagar police, a police operation was launched and the alleged attempt to divert or interfere with the vehicle was foiled.
Five people, including Mukhiya’s son Dr Shiv Kumar, were arrested during the initial action. Subsequently, a total of 11 accused were arrested and sent to jail in connection with the case.
EOU probes Mukhiya’s alleged role
The current EOU investigation is focused on determining Mukhiya’s alleged role in the 2017 attempt and identifying others who may have been involved in the network.
The agency is also examining whether the alleged network had links with other interstate examination rackets and solver gangs involved in cheating or manipulation of competitive examinations.
Officials have reportedly obtained clues during questioning about the functioning of solver networks and alleged irregularities in other interstate competitive examinations. Investigators are now examining whether there are connections between the old NEET-2017 case and other examination-related cases.
Mukhiya has been in Beur Jail since June 2024
Mukhiya has been lodged in Beur Jail since June 2024 after his arrest in connection with the alleged paper leak in the TRE-3 teacher recruitment examination.
He was subsequently brought under the EOU’s investigation in the older NEET-2017 case following the court’s permission for his remand.
The agency had also taken action in connection with the case last year, with questioning of Mukhiya reported as part of the investigation.
CBI had cleared Mukhiya in NEET-2024 case
Mukhiya’s name had also emerged during the investigation into the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak case. However, according to the information available in the case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had cleared him of involvement in that case.
The CBI reportedly gave Mukhiya a clean chit on July 22. Subsequently, on August 31, the CBI special court also acquitted him in connection with the NEET-2024 case while he was lodged in Beur Jail.
The latest EOU action relates to the separate NEET-2017 case and does not alter the outcome of the CBI investigation into the 2024 NEET case.
Mukhiya’s name linked to several examination cases
Mukhiya’s name has surfaced in connection with several alleged examination irregularities in Bihar and other states over the years.
These include cases related to the TRE-4 examination, the 2016 constable recruitment examination and the Jharkhand CGL examination, among others.
Investigating agencies have been examining the alleged role of solver networks, intermediaries and individuals accused of attempting to obtain question papers or interfere with their transportation to examination centres.
The EOU is now examining whether there are links between these cases and the alleged network involved in the 2017 NEET case.
Mukhiya is a native of Nalanda
Sanjeev Mukhiya is a native of Shahpur Balwa village under Nagarnausa police station in Bihar’s Nalanda district.
His name has figured in several high-profile cases involving alleged irregularities in competitive examinations in Bihar in recent years.
He is currently in jail in connection with the TRE-3 paper leak case and is facing questioning by the EOU in the separate, nearly nine-year-old NEET-2017 case involving the alleged attempt to access the question paper before it reached the examination centre.
