New Delhi: The country’s biggest medical entrance exam NEET is once again in the news. Recently, due to the paper leak controversy, many questions were raised on the examination system. The investigation into the case was not yet completely over when a new revelation from Bihar has increased the concern of students and parents. Before the re-exam to be held on June 21, the police has exposed a gang which was allegedly cheating students online by pretending to provide them the exam question paper.
The action of Muzaffarpur Police revealed that the accused were targeting students and their families using the social media platform Telegram. So far five people have been arrested in this case and the investigation is progressing continuously.
Police investigation revealed that the accused had created many Telegram channels and groups. It was claimed on these platforms that they had the real question paper of NEET exam. In the name of providing papers before the examination, huge amount of money was collected from students and parents. Taking advantage of the pressure of competitive examinations and the hope of a better future, this gang used to trap people. Many candidates, in their desire to achieve quick success, used to believe these claims.
According to Muzaffarpur Senior Superintendent of Police Kantesh Kumar Mishra, the police had received information on June 2 that a gang from Sikandarpur area was preparing fake question papers and selling them online. After receiving the information, the police took immediate action and raided a rented house in Balughat area. The main accused Manish Jha was arrested during the raid. Four mobile phones and a laptop were recovered from him. Digital evidence found in the initial investigation helped the police reach the entire network.
Considering the seriousness of the case, the police formed a special investigation team. After technical investigation, investigation of bank accounts and monitoring of social media activities, the police reached out to other members of the gang. During the action, Harsh, Aman Kumar, Kanhaiya Kumar alias Manav and Harsh Kanodia were also arrested. Police believe that the gang was active for a long time and its network may have spread to many places.
During investigation, the accused told that they used to establish contact with the students earlier. To gain trust, some sample material was sent and then online payment was asked for while claiming to give the real question paper. After receiving the money, either fake papers were sent or contact with the victims was completely stopped. According to the police, the money received from the fraud reached the main accused, who was operating the entire network.
Additional mobile phones have also been recovered from the arrested accused. Forensic investigation of these devices is being done. The police is trying to find out how many students and parents were made victims of this gang. Besides, it is also being investigated whether the wires of this network are connected to other states outside Bihar. The police is also collecting information about the old records of the accused and other possible associates.
With the re-exam approaching, the administration has appealed to the students and parents to remain alert. Officials say that any person or social media account claiming to provide question papers before the examination should not be trusted. Experts also believe that such gangs take advantage of students’ mental anxiety and pressure of competitive examinations. Therefore, it is important to maintain distance from any suspicious link, message or offer.
Police say that the campaign against the networks involved in cheating in the name of national level examinations will continue. Other suspects are being searched in the case and more arrests may be made in the coming days. This action of Muzaffarpur Police has once again proved that cyber thugs become active during the examination season. In such a situation, the safest way for students is to rely on their hard work, preparation and official information.
