The Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Vijay Kumar Sinha, claimed on Wednesday that Sikandar Yadvendu, who was arrested in the NEET question paper leak case, is a close relative Pritam Kumar, the personal secretary of former Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.
The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police has identified Sikandar Yadvendu, a junior engineer with the Danapur municipal committee, as the mastermind behind the NEET question paper leak. “Sikandar Yadvendu is a close relative of Tejashwi Yadav’s personal secretary, Pritam Kumar. An NHAI guest house was booked for Sikandar’s sister, Reena Yadav, and his son, Anurag Yadav, to stay on May 4. The diary at the NHAI guest house mentioned a phone number and ‘Mantri Ji’. The investigating agency is trying to determine the identity of this ‘Mantri Ji’,” said Mr. Sinha.
Mr. Sinha, who also oversees the road construction portfolio, has initiated an inquiry into the NHAI guest house booking. “I have ordered a comprehensive investigation by my department to identify which officers or employees are acting under Tejashwi Yadav’s influence. The entire RJD system is built on crime and corruption,” he stated.
The EOU has found evidence that the NEET 2024 question papers were leaked. The exam took place on May 5, with the leak occurring a day earlier on May 4. Sikandar Yadavendu, identified as the ring leader, has been arrested. According to the EOU, Sikandar provided advance copies of the question paper to his brother-in-law’s son and several other candidates, enabling them to memorize the answers.
On May 5, the police arrested Reena Yadav at the NHAI guest house. An OMR sheet was found at the location, and the guest house register listed Anurag Yadav’s name with ‘Mantri Ji’ noted next to it.
Sikandar, a resident of Samastipur, previously worked as a contractor in Ranchi. He became a junior engineer in 2012 and was implicated in a ₹3 crore LED scam, for which he served a jail term.