Hazaribag: Following the National Testing Agency's (NTA) decision to cancel the NEET-UG 2026 examination due to an alleged paper leak in Rajasthan, Hazaribag in Jharkhand has once again come under the spotlight. The town was previously at the center of a similar controversy in 2024.
Ongoing Investigations and Accused
Investigations against several accused from Hazaribag are still ongoing. Some of the accused have secured bail from the Patna High Court and have resumed their normal public lives, according to sources. This year, approximately 3,300 candidates appeared for the NEET-UG exam across nine centers in Hazaribag town.
Oasis School's Role in 2024 Leak
Oasis School, which was at the epicenter of the 2024 paper leak, was not designated as a test center this time. Sources claim that the school's former principal, Ehsanul Haque, who was among three individuals arrested last year by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) during its probe, has allegedly been re-engaged by the school management as its "director." The school chairman, Shabbir Ahmad, did not respond to calls seeking comment on the matter. Although Haque's name does not appear on the school's official website, a teacher at the institution confirmed his return to an administrative role.
Key Evidence and Arrests
Sources associated with the investigation revealed that a crucial lead was the recovery of a partially burnt question booklet in Patna. The booklet bore code number 6136488 and was allegedly allotted to Oasis School. This discovery brought the CBI to Hazaribag and eventually led investigators to Haque, vice-principal Imtiaz Alam, and local journalist Jamaluddin, resulting in their arrest. The probe later expanded as the CBI scrutinized guest registers of various hotels and lodges in Hazaribag.
About the Author: Vishvendu Jaipuriar covers Hazaribag and Chatra districts, focusing on crime, politics, and human interest stories. He has covered programs of prominent national and regional leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during their visits to Hazaribag or Chatra, and has reported extensively on the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak case, with a focus on Hazaribag as a key epicenter.
