Bihar Police on Sunday arrested four persons in Muzaffarpur for allegedly operating a fraudulent network which promised question papers of competitive exams, including the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET), in lieu of money. The accused allegedly targeted aspirants and anxious parents by means of social media platforms, falsely claiming to have access to exam papers before the tests. 

Four fall into police dragnet

Police said the arrested men have been identified as Harsh, Aman Kumar, Kanhaiya Kumar and Harsh Kanodiya. They added that they swooped down on the accused on Saturday evening during a targeted operation. The cops have seized three cell phones from the possession of the accused, which are now being examined as part of a probe.

As per officials, the accused were allegedly involved in a coordinated scheme designed to exploit the pressure and uncertainty surrounding high-stakes examinations.

Money sought in digital mode from victims

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kantesh Kumar Mishra said the group allegedly used social media channels to circulate claims that they possessed confidential question papers for various competitive exams. 

The cops believe the suspects approached aspirants and their families online, convincing them that they could gain access to the exam questions even before they appear for the test. The victims were then asked to transfer money digitally in exchange for the purported question papers.

According to police, the accused admitted during interrogation to have collected money through online bank transfers, which they forwarded to their other aides. 

Arrest made earlier leads to breakthrough

It is noteworthy that the police were able to reach the racket after arresting and interrogating one Manish Jha, who was arrested on June 2 from the Balu Ghat area under the jurisdiction of Sikandarpur Police Station in a related case. 

Acting on Jha’s disclosures, the cops traced the involvement of the four men arrested in the operation. Authorities suspect the accused were part of a broader network engaged in misleading exam-bound candidates with false promises of leaked papers. 

Law enforcement agencies reiterated that they have urged candidates, as well as their parents not to trust claims regarding leaked question papers or guaranteed access to exam content circulated through social media and messaging applications.