Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
Patna, Apr 10: In a determined push to capture the key figure behind the NEET-UG 2024 question paper leak, Bihar Police have offered a reward of Rs 3 lakh for any information that leads to the arrest of Sanjeev Kumar Singh, also known as Sanjeev Mukhiya. The announcement was made through an official notice from the office of Additional Director General (ADG) Kundan Krishnan at the Bihar Police Headquarters.
Alongside Sanjeev Mukhiya, two more individuals—Shubham Kumar and Rajkishore Kumar—have been named in the bounty list, with rewards of Rs 1 lakh each for their capture. Police officials stated that the reward applies not only to members of the force but also to any member of the public who provides credible assistance in tracking down the accused. The notification is valid for two years, allowing anyone who helps apprehend the individuals within this period to claim the reward.
Shubham Kumar is a resident of Beechbazar under the jurisdiction of Sohsarai Police Station in Nalanda and is wanted in two separate cases. Rajkishore Kumar, from Bakhtari village under Karpi Police Station in Arwal district, is also involved in two cases.
Sanjeev Mukhiya, a resident of Shahpur Balwa village under Nagarnausa Police Station in Nalanda district, is the central accused in the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak case registered at Shastri Nagar Police Station (Case No. 358/2024). He is also linked to the constable recruitment scam, teachers’ recruitment scam, and additional pending criminal investigations. His notoriety as a repeat offender in major exam frauds has made him one of the most wanted fugitives in the state.
The NEET-UG paper leak scandal was exposed on May 5, 2024, when Patna Police detected irregularities during the nationwide medical entrance exam. Initially investigated by local police, the case was handed over to the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) and subsequently transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 23, 2024.
The CBI’s FIR in the case names eight accused individuals, including Mukhiya, Ayush Raj, Rocky, Amit Anand, Nitish Kumar, Bittu, Akhilesh, and Sikandar Yadavendu. Sanjeev Mukhiya has long been suspected of orchestrating large-scale exam manipulation operations, cementing his reputation as a central figure in India's examination fraud underworld.
Police have appealed to the public to come forward with any actionable information. They have assured that all informant identities will be kept strictly confidential and that the promised rewards will be honored in full.