Patna, Bihar – In a startling revelation during a press briefing on Thursday, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vinay Kumar Sinha alleged that an aide of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is linked to the recent paper leaks and malpractices in the NEET-UG examination. Sinha claimed that Preetam Kumar, Yadav’s personal secretary, facilitated accommodations for individuals involved in the scandal.
Sinha revealed that Preetam Kumar contacted an employee of the Bihar Road Construction Department to book a room for Sikandar Prasad Yadavendu, who mentioned the involvement of a “Mantri Ji” in the exam row. Yadavendu allegedly arranged for his nephew, NEET aspirant Anurag Yadav, and others to stay in Patna at a government bungalow.
“On May 1, Tejashwi Yadav’s personal secretary Preetam Kumar called guesthouse worker Pradip Kumar to book a room for Sikandar Kumar Yadavendu. On May 4, Preetam Kumar called Pradip Kumar again for booking the room. The word ‘mantri’ was used for Tejashwi Yadav,” Sinha stated.
Sinha demanded that Tejashwi Yadav clarify whether Preetam Kumar is still his personal secretary and explain the identity of Sikandar Kumar Yadavendu. “Tejashwi Yadav should clarify if Preetam Kumar is still his PS and he should also clarify who is Sikandar Kumar Yadavendu. When Lalu Prasad Yadav was jailed in Ranchi, Sikandar Kumar Yadavendu used to be at Lalu’s service. He was a JE in the irrigation department. They play with the future of the people. They do scams when they are in power and they try to influence the appointment process,” Sinha continued.
In a statement to the media, Pradip Kumar confirmed Sinha’s claims, saying, “Preetam called me and asked me to book a room for Sikandar Kumar on May 1 and then again on May 4. I asked for a requisition, on which he said that it would be given by them.”
The controversy over leaked NEET question papers and preferential marking has taken a political turn in Bihar. Four men reportedly told police that the paper was leaked 24 hours before the exam on May 4. The accused include NEET candidate Anurag Yadav, his uncle Sikandar Yadavendu, and associates Nitish Kumar and Amit Anand. Anurag Yadav claimed that his uncle provided him with the leaked paper, which had identical questions to those in the exam. Yadavendu admitted to police that Kumar and Anand gave him the paper for ₹32 lakh.
The allegations have sparked a political war of words between the BJP and the opposition RJD in Bihar. Deputy CM Sinha emphasized Yadavendu’s connection to Tejashwi Yadav’s aide, Preetam Kumar, further fueling the controversy.
In response to the paper leak allegations, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced last week that grace marks awarded to 1,563 students who took the exam would be canceled. The central body, which conducts competitive entrance tests, stated that these students could accept their old scores or retake the exam on June 23.
The uproar began after an unusually high number of candidates scored 100 percent in the NEET examination, prompting many to file petitions with the Supreme Court seeking redress. Approximately 24 lakh students sat for the NEET exam on May 5.