The Indian state of Patna’s high court ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Friday to take 13 people custody for their alleged involvement in leaking the examination paper for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). NEET is responsible for the selection and admission of candidates to various medical schools in India.

CBI’s request for custody of the accused persons was initially denied by the Exclusive Magistrate, CBI, Patna. However, due to the “seriousness of the case,” the previous order has been suspended. The CBI is now allowed to take the accused into custody, and the magistrate was instructed to facilitate this promptly. The court said they will be in CBI custody “till the period of fifteen days from the date of arrest expires.”

Following the 2024 NEET exam, they have been allegations of rank inflation, cheating, and a potential question paper leak that arose after an unusually high number of students achieved perfect scores. The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting NEET, attributed this to an “easy paper” and technical issues at exam centers. However, suspicions heightened when question papers appeared on social media shortly after the exam began, despite initial denials from the NTA. Investigations revealed that the leaked papers originated from Nalanda of Bihar state, where 18 suspects were apprehended.

Calls for re-examinations and investigations are growing as concerns over fairness and integrity mount. The NTA has formed a panel to probe the allegations while maintaining that the exam’s integrity was not compromised.