PATNA: The NEET-UG controversy took a political turn on Thursday with Bihar deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha alleging that the prime accused is linked to an aide of leader of opposition in the state assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav.
Sinha released at a press conference a list of phone calls made by Tejashwi’s personal secretary, Pritam Kumar, to a staff member of the road construction department to book accommodation in an NHAI guesthouse for Sikandar K Yadvendu, alleged to be the mastermind of the alleged NEET paper leak.
“Tejashwi’s personal secretary first called up Pradeep on May 1 and then thrice on May 4,” the deputy CM claimed, asking the RJD politician to explain his association with Pritam and Yadvendu. He alleged that Pritam enjoys a close association with RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s family and has easy access to his residence.
“It is said that while Lalu was lodged in Ranchi jail (in the fodder scam), Pritam arranged all facilities for him,” Sinha alleged .
NHAI, meanwhile, posted on ‘X’ to clarify “that it does not have any guesthouse facility in Patna”.
RJD hit back at the deputy CM. “Even while the probe is still on, the deputy CM has tried to create a certain perception about Tejashwi. This is clearly an attempt to influence the investigation,” RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said.
According to Economic Offences Unit sources, four of the arrested accused have confessed that question papers were arranged for some candidates a day before the exam. The candidates paid around Rs 30 lakh to Rs 32 lakh for the leaked question papers. The confessions came from Anurag, his uncle Sikandar Yadavendu, and two others who are believed to be among the masterminds behind the paper leak, police sources said.
Sinha released at a press conference a list of phone calls made by Tejashwi’s personal secretary, Pritam Kumar, to a staff member of the road construction department to book accommodation in an NHAI guesthouse for Sikandar K Yadvendu, alleged to be the mastermind of the alleged NEET paper leak.
“Tejashwi’s personal secretary first called up Pradeep on May 1 and then thrice on May 4,” the deputy CM claimed, asking the RJD politician to explain his association with Pritam and Yadvendu. He alleged that Pritam enjoys a close association with RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s family and has easy access to his residence.
“It is said that while Lalu was lodged in Ranchi jail (in the fodder scam), Pritam arranged all facilities for him,” Sinha alleged .
NHAI, meanwhile, posted on ‘X’ to clarify “that it does not have any guesthouse facility in Patna”.
RJD hit back at the deputy CM. “Even while the probe is still on, the deputy CM has tried to create a certain perception about Tejashwi. This is clearly an attempt to influence the investigation,” RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said.
According to Economic Offences Unit sources, four of the arrested accused have confessed that question papers were arranged for some candidates a day before the exam. The candidates paid around Rs 30 lakh to Rs 32 lakh for the leaked question papers. The confessions came from Anurag, his uncle Sikandar Yadavendu, and two others who are believed to be among the masterminds behind the paper leak, police sources said.
