ZP school principal arrested, teacher arrested

An FIR has been registered against Jadhav, Pathan, Iranna Mashnaji Kongalwar of Nanded and one Gangadhar, a resident of Delhi under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

Pathan was remanded in custody on Monday until July 2 by a local court.

“ATS officials received information that some suspects were running an illegal racket to help NEET students pass the exam in exchange for money,” said a statement issued by the Latur district police commissioner's office.

Subsequently, the ATS arrested Jadhav and Pathan from Latur on Saturday evening for questioning.

According to police, suspicious information regarding the NEET 2024 exam was found in the mobile phone of one of the detained persons.

The investigation has so far revealed references to monetary transactions carried out by one of the accused Kongalwar with Gangadhar, a resident of Delhi, an official said.

Prima facie, Kongalwar was acting as a mediator who collected the admit cards of NEET aspirants from two teachers – Pathan and Jadhav.

“Once the cards were collected, an advance payment of Rs 50,000 was made to Gangadhar and the admit cards were sent to him. The deal would usually be finalized at Rs 5 lakh (per student to ease paper leak),” the official said. said.

Konagalwar, posted at an ITI in Umarga in Dharashiv district of Marathwada region, was in touch with Gangadhar.

The official said police teams had been deployed to trace Kongalwar.

Jadhav appeared to be in a disturbed state of mind and was possibly contemplating self-harm, the official said.

“He has been arrested and his interrogation is ongoing. For the moment, he has not been officially arrested,” he added.

Meanwhile, Pathan's closet in Katpur, where he was posted as principal, was sealed and his duties were handed over to another teacher.

Investigation showed that Pathan was absent from school since June 20, but he signed the service deed on June 20 and 21.

The block education officer has submitted a report to the higher authorities, officials said, adding that a proposal to suspend Pathan would be proposed.

According to police, Kongalwar was going to ITI in Umarga from Latur. He had requested leave on Monday and Tuesday.

Investigator Bhagwat Funde did not respond to repeated calls.

The ATS action came after the Center handed over the investigation into alleged irregularities in the medical entrance examination – NEET-UG- to the CBI, giving in to the demands of students protesting across the country for a investigation into this matter.

The CBI subsequently filed an FIR over the alleged irregularities during the examination conducted on May 5.