Image Source: Indiatoday
Ravi Atri, previously implicated in the Uttar Pradesh Police Constable Recruitment Exam paper leak, has now emerged in connection with alleged irregularities surrounding the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). Atri was apprehended by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UPSTF) in April this year for orchestrating the constable exam paper leak in collaboration with Rajiv Nayan Mishra. This operation involved gathering students at a resort in Manesar to facilitate the leak, resulting in his recent chargesheeting along with 18 others.
Atri’s history is marked by similar offenses, including previous incarcerations for leaking the Pre-Medical Test exam paper in 2012 and the AIIMS PG exam paper in 2015. His connection to the NEET scandal surfaced when Bihar Police’s Economic Offences Unit (EOU) uncovered evidence linking him to a paper leak racket led by Sanjeev Mukhiya. Mukhiya, who operates independently, is known for his involvement in leaking exam papers. The EOU, acting under the Union Education Ministry’s directives, is preparing a comprehensive report on the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak, detailing confiscated materials like burnt question papers and OMR sheets.
In the NEET case, Mukhiya allegedly accommodated around 25 candidates at a boys’ hostel in Patna, providing them with leaked exam materials a day before the test. While Atri’s direct involvement in the NEET paper leak is yet to be confirmed, his association with Mukhiya’s network has raised suspicions. Notably, Mukhiya’s son, Dr. Shiv Kumar, has ties with Atri from their shared educational background.
Currently detained due to prior arrests, Atri’s name resurfaced in ongoing investigations due to these connections. The unfolding probe underscores the complexities and pervasive nature of exam paper leaks in India, highlighting efforts by law enforcement to tackle such systemic fraud and maintain the integrity of competitive examinations.
