NEET Exam Leak: Shadow Server and 'Private Mafia' Exposed

An extensive NEET-UG paper leak scheme was orchestrated in Nashik, Maharashtra, and subsequently implemented in Sikar, Rajasthan, a prominent coaching center hub. The investigation has uncovered the use of advanced technology for leak dissemination, including portable scanners, a complex Telegram network, and a shadow server. Initial digital copies of the leaked question paper were prepared in Nashik and later printed locally.

The leaked papers were transported through various locations, including Gurugram, Jaipur, and ultimately Sikar, from where they were distributed to Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, and Kerala. Criminals employed high-definition portable scanners instead of mobile cameras to avoid detection, transmitting scanned copies via instant messaging applications like Telegram and WhatsApp.

Authorities are also investigating a group identified as 'Private Mafia,' reportedly comprising around 400 members, whose stated purpose was to share leaked examination papers. A shadow server, hosted on a leased line from a small IT startup in Nashik, was utilized to obscure data transfers. Investigators suspect an employee from a private courier company may have facilitated access to question paper storage trunks for a brief period.

All 90 biology questions in the NEET exam matched those in the 'guess papers,' along with 35 out of 46 chemistry questions, indicating a significant level of similarity. The Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) has arrested 15 individuals, including Manish Yadav and Rakesh Mandwaria, while Shubham Khairnar, a BAMS student, was arrested in Nashik. The probe has since been transferred to the CBI.