The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed the third charge sheet in connection with the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) 2024 question paper leak case before the Special Court for CBI cases in Patna, against 21 accused individuals, agency sources said on Saturday.

The CBI had previously filed the second charge sheet in the case on September 20, naming six accused: Baldev Kumar alias Chintu, Sunny Kumar, Ahsanul Haque (Principal of Oasis School, Hazaribagh, and City Coordinator of Hazaribagh), Md. Imtiyaz Alam (Vice-Principal of Oasis School and Centre Superintendent), Jamaluddin alias Jamal (a reporter from Hazaribagh), and Aman Kumar Singh.

The charge sheet was filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 120-B (Criminal Conspiracy), Section 109 (Abetment), Section 409 (Criminal Breach of Trust), Section 420 (Cheating), Section 380 (Theft), Section 201 (Causing Disappearance of Evidence), and Section 411 (Dishonestly Receiving Stolen Property).

Additionally, substantive charges were invoked under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), against the principal of Oasis School, who was appointed as the City Coordinator, and the vice-principal, who was appointed as the Centre Superintendent by the NTA for the NEET UG-2024 exam.

The first charge sheet, filed by the CBI on August 1, 2024, named 13 accused individuals.

The investigation revealed that Ahsanul Haque, in his capacity as City Coordinator for Hazaribagh during the NEET UG 2024 exam, along with Md. Imtiyaz Alam, the Centre Superintendent and Vice-Principal of Oasis School, conspired with other accused individuals to steal the NEET UG question paper.

The CBI initiated its investigation earlier this year following controversy over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the NEET UG 2024 exam.

(ANI)