NEET-UG 2024 paper theft (Hazaribagh–Patna)

How it surfaced

The docket

Every legal action on record, in order. Each row cites its document.

1. 5 May 2024

   FIR registered · Shastri Nagar PS, Patna

   Patna FIR No. 358/2024

   FIR under IPC 407/408/409/120B on a whistle-blower tip-off hours before the exam.

   per: Judgment, Vanshika Yadav v. Union of India & Ors. (NEET-UG 2024) (Supreme Court of India, 2 Aug 2024)

2. 6 May 2024

   Arrest · Patna Police

   Patna FIR No. 358/2024

   13 persons including four examinees arrested in the first days; candidates confirmed receiving the paper in advance.

   per: Judgment, Vanshika Yadav v. Union of India & Ors. (NEET-UG 2024) (Supreme Court of India, 2 Aug 2024)

3. 11 May 2024

   Case transferred · Economic Offences Unit, Bihar Police

   Patna FIR No. 358/2024 (transferred)

   EOU took over after organised inter-state gangs were identified.

   per: Judgment, Vanshika Yadav v. Union of India & Ors. (NEET-UG 2024) (Supreme Court of India, 2 Aug 2024)

4. 23 Jun 2024

   Case transferred · Central Bureau of Investigation

   CBI RC, June 2024

   CBI registered its own case on a Ministry of Education reference and took over the multi-state probe.

   per: Judgment, Vanshika Yadav v. Union of India & Ors. (NEET-UG 2024) (Supreme Court of India, 2 Aug 2024)

5. 23 Jul 2024

   Order / direction · Supreme Court of India

   W.P. (C) No. 335 of 2024

   Court recorded that 155 students directly benefited but found no systemic failure; nationwide re-examination declined.

   per: Judgment, Vanshika Yadav v. Union of India & Ors. (NEET-UG 2024) (Supreme Court of India, 2 Aug 2024)

6. 1 Aug 2024

   Charge sheet filed · Spl. Judge (CBI), Patna

   CBI charge sheet no. 1 (13 accused)

   First charge sheet against 13 accused, including the centre city-coordinator and centre superintendent, under IPC and PC Act provisions.

   per: CBI press release: charge sheet filed in NEET (UG) 2024 paper leak case (Central Bureau of Investigation, 1 Aug 2024)

7. 7 Oct 2024

   Charge sheet filed · Spl. Judge (CBI), Patna

   CBI charge sheet no. 3 (21 accused)

   Third charge sheet against 21 accused; 5,500+ pages, 298 witnesses, 290 documents; 49 arrests in total.

   per: NEET UG-2024 paper leak case: CBI files third chargesheet against 21 accused (ANI, 7 Oct 2024)

8. 25 Apr 2025

   Arrest · EOU / CBI, Patna

   EOU/CBI cases, Patna

   Long-absconding prime organiser of the leak network arrested; in judicial custody as of June 2025.

   per: ED raids multiple states in 2023 Bihar constable recruitment scam probe (The Economic Times, 19 Jun 2025)

What candidates got

After the suspension

Suspension is where most coverage ends. This is what the record says happened next — tracking rules →

• ⚑ Director General, NTA

  Transferred · 22 Jun 2024

  Removed from NTA charge at the height of the row and given other duties; no departmental penalty has been published since.

  per: DoPT order reported 22.06.2024

⚑ marks an official who returned to, or never left, the ministry whose exam leaked.

The investigation trail

Every SIT, committee and inquiry announced for this case — and whether its report ever became public.

• High-Level Committee on exam reforms (7-member, chaired by a former ISRO chairman)

  Formed 22 Jun 2024 · by Ministry of Education · report submitted 21 Oct 2024

  Report status: public · source

  101 recommendations; NTA restructuring began January 2026. The report reached the Supreme Court in 2025 before full public release.

• Bihar EOU probe report sent to the Union education ministry

  Formed 8 Jun 2024 · by Economic Offences Unit, Bihar Police · report submitted 23 Jun 2024

  Report status: not made public · 718 days elapsed

  Findings folded into the CBI case; the EOU report itself was never published.

What it cost candidates

Custody & bail updates

Later movement in custody recorded against this case.

1. 25 Apr 2025

   The alleged ring organiser — absconding since mid-2024 — was arrested; a Patna court remanded him to the Economic Offences Unit, which also sought his custody in the 2023 Bihar constable leak case.

Sources on file

• Tier 1 · primary Judgment, Vanshika Yadav v. Union of India & Ors. (NEET-UG 2024) — Supreme Court of India · W.P. (C) No. 335 of 2024 · 2 Aug 2024
• Tier 1 · primary CBI press release: charge sheet filed in NEET (UG) 2024 paper leak case — Central Bureau of Investigation · 1 Aug 2024
• Tier 2 · reported NEET UG-2024 paper leak case: CBI files third chargesheet against 21 accused — ANI · 7 Oct 2024 [archived]
• Tier 2 · reported ED raids multiple states in 2023 Bihar constable recruitment scam probe — The Economic Times · 19 Jun 2025 [archived]

Status log

Every status this register has ever assigned to this case. Append-only.

Act on this record

To: The Public Information Officer,
Shastri Nagar PS, Patna

Subject: Request under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — NEET-UG 2024 paper theft (Hazaribagh–Patna)

Under the Right to Information Act 2005, I request the following information:

1. Current status of Patna FIR No. 358/2024 dated 5 May 2024 concerning the question paper leak in NEET-UG 2024.
2. Whether a charge sheet has been filed in this matter; if yes, its date and the court where it was filed.
3. Names and current postings of all officials suspended in connection with this matter.
4. Whether any suspended official has been reinstated; if yes, the order reference and date.
5. Date and outcome of the last court hearing in this matter.

I am enclosing the application fee of Rs. 10 as required. If this application falls outside your office's purview, kindly transfer it under Section 6(3) of the Act and inform me.

Regards,
[Applicant name]
[Address]
[Date]

<iframe src="https://preview-paperleak-920336e9.viktor.space/embed/case/neet-ug-2024/"
        width="400" height="200" frameborder="0" title="NEET-UG 2024 paper theft (Hazaribagh–Patna) — Parcha"></iframe>

Or share the record itself: make this exam's 1080×1080 card →