Bihar's Aryabhatta Knowledge University has postponed its National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Post Graduate, or NEET-PG, examination after police seized admit cards and burnt optical mark recognition sheets from a hostel of the Patna Medical College and Hospital on Thursday, The Indian Express reported on Friday.
The exam was originally scheduled for Friday, but have now been postponed to January 16.
The police said that the seizures were made from the hostel room of a former student of the Patna Medical College named Ajay Kumar Singh, according to The Indian Express. The police filed a case against Singh, and the Patna Medical College set up a three-member committee to investigate the possible leak.
Superintendent of Police Sweety Sahrawat said on Thursday that the items were discovered while responding to a complaint that a room in the hostel had caught fire on Tuesday.
The next day, the hostel warden found the items in Ajay Kumar Singh’s room while inspecting the damage, The Hindu reported.
Other seized items include burned cash worth around Rs 2.75 lakh, in denominations of Rs 100 and Rs 500, and a half-empty bottle of alcohol.
The hostel authorities reportedly told the police that Kumar had been illegally occupying the room despite finishing his post-graduation last year.
Kumar is suspected of hiring medical students to appear as proxy candidates for the post-graduate medical entrance exam, The Hindu reported. He is believed to be absconding, The Times of India reported.
The police declined to comment on any potential connection of the items with the allegations of paper leaks that marred the conduct of the 2024 undergraduate NEET examination, saying they would need to first verify all the documents to determine their purpose and how old they were.
In 2024, there were allegations of question paper leaks and other irregularities during the conduct of the undergraduate NEET – leading to the arrest of 45 people by the Central Bureau of Investigation from Bihar and Jharkhand.
Buy an annual Scroll Membership to support independent journalism and get special benefits.
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!