Bihar to Implement Stringent Anti-Leakage Bill After NEET Exam Scandal

Patna: Following the central government and Uttar Pradesh's lead, Bihar will introduce a law to curb unfair practices, question paper leaks, and cheating in examinations.

Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary announced on Friday, after meeting with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, that an anti-leakage bill will be presented in the upcoming monsoon session of the Bihar legislature (scheduled for next month). The new legislation will include provisions for speedy trials in fast-track courts, with potential sentences of life imprisonment and fines of up to Rs. 10 lakh for those found guilty.

Bihar became a focal point recently due to the leak of question papers for the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) held on May 5th, a crucial exam for admission into medical colleges.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which took over the investigation of the case on Wednesday, made its first two arrests today. Manish Prakash and Asutosh were apprehended from Patna's Khemnichak area. Manish allegedly facilitated a four-day stay for 25 aspirants at a residential school and arranged for them to receive the questions in advance. Asutosh is accused of coordinating the movement of these aspirants between various exam centers.

The CBI also took two examinees, Chintu and Mukesh, into custody for further questioning. These two were among the six examinees previously arrested in Deoghar. Additionally, a CBI team detained three individuals from a school in neighboring Jharkhand's Hazaribagh. The director and principal of the school, which served as an exam center, were also detained yesterday.

So far, a total of 28 people have been arrested in connection with the case, spanning five states: Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana, Gujarat,and Maharashtra.