UGC-NET exam: CBI questions UP suspect in connection with paper leak

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A man was questioned in connection with the UGC-NET paper leak case by the CBI in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar, reported PTI on Saturday.

The suspect allegedly posted a portion of the paper on instant messaging service Telegram.

As per the PTI report, he was taken to Padrauna Kotwali in the district where he is being questioned by the team of CBI anti-corruption branch, officials said.

It is understood that the suspect had undertaken coaching for the examination in Kota, Rajasthan, reported PTI citing officials.

On Thursday, an FIR was registered against unidentified people on a reference from the Union education ministry by the CBI in connection with the case.

The UGC-NET-2024 exam for the selection of junior research fellows, assistant professors and PhD scholars was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on June 18 in two shifts across the country.

The next day, the University Grants Commission (UGC) received inputs from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (l4C) that the paper was available on the darknet and allegedly being sold for Rs 5-6 lakh on messaging platforms, sources said.

According to the complaint from the education ministry, the inputs from I4C, which functions under the Union home ministry, "prima-facie indicate that the integrity of the examination may have been compromised", officials said.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders on Thursday launched an attack on the National Testing Agency (NTA) after the UGC-NET exam was cancelled and accused the agency as well as the Union government of destroying the future of students who appeared for these exams.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saket Gokhale said the examination process in the country has crashed and the lives of students are being destroyed. He accused the NTA of being complicit.