CBI GIVES CLEAN CHIT TO SANJEEV MUKHIA

CBI GIVES CLEAN CHIT TO SANJEEV MUKHIA

24-JULY-ENG 5

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA-------------------------The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak case, has given a clean chit to Sanjeev Kumar, alias Sanjeev Mukhiya. The agency stated that despite a thorough investigation and interrogation, no concrete evidence was found against him; consequently, no charge sheet was filed against him. The CBI has filed a charge sheet against a total of 45 accused persons in this case before the competent court in Patna. This stance by the CBI comes at a time when the alleged paper leak controversy surrounding the NEET-UG 2026 examination is making headlines nationwide. Against this backdrop, Sanjeev Mukhiya's name has once again surfaced in connection with the 2024 case.

According to the CBI, the entire conspiracy and the individuals involved were identified during the investigation. Sanjeev Mukhiya was absconding at the time of the probe. Later, the Bihar Police arrested him in connection with other paper leak cases. Since he was also named in the FIR for the NEET-UG 2024 case, the CBI took him on remand for questioning.

Even after the investigation concluded, no evidence was found against him. On this basis, he was not included in the charge sheet. The agency also clarified that the position regarding his role had been established back in 2024; therefore, it is incorrect to claim that his name was deliberately removed from the charge sheet at a later stage.

However, despite receiving relief in this specific case, Sanjeev Mukhiya's legal troubles are far from over. He remains an accused in five other paper leak cases registered in Bihar. These cases involve the leaking of question papers for various competitive examinations, including those for police and teacher recruitment. The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of the Bihar Police has already filed a charge sheet against him in these matters; he is currently in judicial custody.

The first case regarding the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak was registered on May 5, 2024, at the Shastri Nagar police station in Patna.

Subsequently, the Economic Offences Unit of the Bihar Police initiated an investigation. During raids in Patna, remnants of burnt question papers, answer sheets, and other crucial evidence were recovered from a boys' hostel and a play school. Preliminary investigations revealed that on May 4—the day before the exam—certain candidates were taken to secure locations and made to memorize the answers. It was during this investigation that the names of several alleged 'solvers' and middlemen, including Sanjeev Mukhiya, surfaced. Later, as the issue gained nationwide attention, the Central Government handed over the investigation to the CBI.