Nagpur: The recent Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raids in Nagpur and Chandrapur, connected to the NEET paper leak, have sparked widespread anxiety among coaching classes, parents, and students. Many fear that a mere coincidence—such as similarity between practice papers or mock tests and the original question paper—could land them in legal trouble.
Mock Test Similarity Raises Concerns
The CBI's focus on mock test papers stems from a case involving a coaching class owner from Marathwada, now in CBI custody. An undated video circulating on social media shows him interviewing students about their NEET exams, where students claim that many questions from their practice tests appeared in the actual exam. This has led to fears among coaching institutes that they might inadvertently be caught in the CBI's digital trail.
Anonymity and Fear
An anonymous owner of a Nagpur coaching class explained, "Many students appear for test series online and are part of multiple WhatsApp groups where study material and mock tests are shared. It's possible that mock tests from external sources enter our ecosystem, and students could unknowingly get into trouble." He added that while Nagpur coaching classes operate transparently, students might still be at risk.
Parental Anxiety
A worried parent, contacted through the coaching class owner, expressed concern: "Although there is no reason to fear, hearing on social media that students are being questioned for receiving WhatsApp messages with mock papers is alarming. NEET aspirants receive dozens of mock test PDFs daily; how can they distinguish a leaked paper from legitimate practice material?"
The situation underscores the need for clear guidelines to protect students from unintended legal consequences while preparing for competitive exams.
