NEET UG row: 5 more arrested from Jharkhand in paper leak case

NEET UG row: Bihar Police's Economic Offences Unit (EOU) arrested five more people on Friday in connection with the alleged leak of the NEET-UG question paper, bringing the total number of arrests to 18. The most recent arrests took place in Jharkhand's Deoghar, according to a police official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

All five individuals were taken to Patna for further interrogation.

Previously, two people were arrested in Ranchi - Awadesh Kumar and his son Abhishek, a NEET candidate. In his confession letter, Awadesh stated that he paid Rs 40 lakh to alleged mastermind Sikandar Yadavendu for the question paper.

Authorities suspect Awadesh may have had ties to Sikandar Yadavendu through their former working relationship in Jharkhand's construction industry.

According to sources, Sikandar, a former contractor who now works as a junior engineer for the Danapur Municipal Council, has significant investments in Jharkhand, including his son's prominent sports outlet, Infinity, in Ranchi and a sprawling residence in the city's Bariatu neighbourhood.

The Bihar Police's Economic Offences Unit (EOU) is preparing to register a disproportionate assets case against Sikandar, according to sources. This follows the arrest of 13 individuals, which includes four NEET-UG candidates and their family members, in connection with the case.