NEET paper leak accused sent to Beur jail after EOU remand ends

Patna: Sanjeev Mukhia, the alleged mastermind of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) UG-2024 paper leak case, was sent to Beur jail after his two-day remand ended on Wednesday. The court had granted the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) two additional days of remand to interrogate Mukhia on Monday, allowing further questioning after an initial 36-hour remand during which Mukhia made several shocking revelations. Now, the EOU will ask for his remand in all the cases in which he was wanted in the state. Besides, the investigating agency will probe his connections with gangs active in other states, according to EOU officials.
Additional director general (ADG) of EOU, Nayyar Hasnain Khan, said, "Now the next action of the probe agency is to ask for his remand in all the cases in which he is wanted, including Bihar Police constable recruitment exam-2023, BPSC Teachers Recruitment Exam (TRE)-3, and NEET (UG)-2024. Besides, we will gather all information related to the cases registered against him in Bihar districts as well as in other states. The EOU will then proceed for trial in all such cases."
Khan further stated that the investigating agency will gather information related to his movable and immovable assets, especially benami properties. They will then locate them and proceed with their confiscation process.
"The EOU is also trying to locate Mukhiya's connection with the gangs, printing presses, examination centres, and other individuals of neighbouring states who are involved in competitive exam scams. The investigation so far has revealed that he is connected to various neighbouring states' gangs, including those in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha," the ADG added.
Meanwhile, the anti-corruption team contacted the EOU and sought information related to his assets and income. Mukhia was employed as a technical assistant at Noorsarai Horticulture College in Nalanda. A resident of Nagarnausa village in Nalanda district, Mukhia was involved in examination paper leaks. His son, Shiv Kumar, is presently incarcerated in Beur jail for a separate paper leak incident.
The authorities apprehended Mukhia for his role in leaking the constable recruitment examination paper of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) in 2016. Starting his career as a fourth-grade employee, he later rose to become a panchayat head, accumulating significant wealth and influence. His spouse, Mamta Devi, contested the assembly election in 2020 from Harnaut constituency on a united Lok Janshakti Party ticket but failed to secure victory.
Khan further added, "His son Shiv Kumar, Rocky, and several other relatives are actively involved in his gang. Rocky's role was to manage the doctors associated with the solver gang. He was in contact with doctors from several major govt hospitals in Patna and Ranchi, arranging for them to solve papers for a substantial fee."