NEW DELHI: The NEET paper leak controversy has taken a political turn with Bihar's deputy chief minister, Vijay Sinha, accusing the leader of the opposition in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, of involvement in the scandal.
During a press conference in Patna, deputy CM Vijay Sinha detailed phone calls made by Tejashwi Yadav's personal secretary, Pritam Kumar, to book accommodations for Sikander Kumar Yadavendu, the mastermind of the NEET question paper leak.
"On May 1, Tejashwi Yadav's personal secretary Pritam Kumar called guesthouse worker Pradip Kumar to book a room for Sikander Kumar Yadavendu... On May 4, Pritam Kumar called Pradip Kumar again for booking the room... The word 'mantri' was used for Tejashwi Yadav," Sinha said.
"Sikandar Yadvendu is a close relative of Tejashwi Yadav's PS Pritam Kumar. An NHAI guest house was booked for Sikandar's sister Reena Yadav and son Anurag Yadav on May 4. A phone number and 'Mantri Ji' were mentioned in the NHAI guest house's diary. The investigating agency is trying to identify this 'Mantri Ji,'" Sinha added.
Sinha, also the minister of road construction, ordered an inquiry into the booking of the NHAI guest house. "I am conducting a thorough investigation in my department to identify officers or employees working at the behest of Tejashwi Yadav. The entire RJD system is based on crime and corruption," he said.
However, NHAI has clarified that it does not operate any guest house facility in Patna.
The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) has uncovered evidence of the NEET 2024 question paper leak. The exam, held on May 5, saw the question paper leaked a day earlier on May 4.
Sikandar Yadavendu, the alleged mastermind, has been arrested. The EOU claims that Sikandar facilitated his brother-in-law's son and several other candidates in memorizing the answers by providing them with the question paper in advance.
On May 5, the police apprehended Reena Yadav from the NHAI guest house, where an OMR sheet was discovered. Reena's son Anurag's name, along with 'Mantri Ji,' was found in the guest house register.
Sikandar, a resident of Samastipur, previously worked as a contractor in Ranchi and became a junior engineer in 2012. He was previously implicated in a Rs 3 crore LED scam and served a prison sentence.