The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday conducted searches at the main office of Renukai Chemistry Classes (RCC) in Maharashtra’s Latur city as part of its investigation into the alleged NEET paper leak case, sources said, reported the PTI.
Officials from the central agency began the search operation at the coaching institute located in Shivnagar area during the afternoon. The searches continued till late evening.
The development comes two days after the CBI questioned RCC founder Shivraj Motegaonkar for nearly eight hours at his residence in the same locality.
According to sources, investigators suspect that some doctors from Latur may have purchased the allegedly leaked NEET examination paper, the news agency reported.
A CBI team has been stationed in Latur for the past four days as part of the ongoing investigation.
FIR registered after exam cancellation
The CBI had earlier registered an FIR and formed multiple teams to investigate the alleged paper leak, which led to the cancellation of the NEET-UG examination held on May 3.
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) was conducted in 551 cities across India and at 14 overseas centres. Nearly 23 lakh candidates had registered for the medical entrance examination organised by the National Testing Agency, as per the PTI.
According to the NTA, information regarding suspected malpractice was received on the evening of May 7, four days after the examination.
The agency said the matter was immediately escalated to central authorities for independent verification and further action.
Lecturer arrested in connection with case
The CBI has already arrested several individuals from Maharashtra in connection with the alleged leak.
Among those arrested is Pune-based Biology lecturer Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, who was allegedly part of the NTA’s paper-setting committee. She was arrested on Saturday after being questioned at the CBI headquarters in Delhi, as per the PTI.
The investigation into the alleged examination malpractice is continuing, officials said.
Pune lecturer arrested
The CBI on Saturday arrested a biology lecturer who was part of the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) paper-setting committee for NEET-UG held on May 3, officials said. The arrest was made on the basis of questioning of alleged kingpin PV Kulkarni and other accused in the paper leak case.
“The biology lecturer Manisha Mandhare was arrested after being questioned by the agency. She was allegedly involved in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) examination process and was appointed by the NTA as an expert. Mandhare had complete access to the Botany and Zoology question papers,” a CBI spokesperson said.
(with PTI inputs)