CBI closes UGC-NET paper leak case, finds no evidence of breach

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a closure report in the UGC-NET 2024 paper leak case, concluding that there was no evidence to support allegations of a leak.

The closure report, submitted before a special court, follows an extensive investigation into claims that the question paper had surfaced on the darknet and was being sold via Telegram.

The court will now review the findings and decide whether to accept the report or direct further investigation. The agency has also submitted its conclusions to the Union Ministry of Education.

The CBI’s probe revealed that the so-called "leaked" question paper was, in fact, a digitally altered screenshot circulated by a student attempting to profit from the situation. Officials stated that on the day of the exam, a manipulated image of the question paper was shared on Telegram, creating the false impression that it had been leaked.

Forensic experts confirmed that the screenshot was doctored, with its date and time stamp deliberately altered to mislead candidates and authorities. The individual behind the fabrication, a school student, allegedly used a mobile application to edit the image.

More than 11 lakh candidates had registered for the UGC-NET exam, which serves as a gateway for junior research fellowships, assistant professorships, and PhD admissions in Indian universities. However, the Ministry of Education cancelled the examination on June 19 after receiving alerts from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit under the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre.

"The UGC received certain inputs from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre under the Ministry of Home Affairs on the examination. These inputs prima facie indicated that the integrity of the examination may have been compromised," the Ministry of Education had stated at the time.

The CBI was subsequently assigned the case, but its findings indicate that the claims of a paper leak were based on a hoax. The agency’s forensic assessment and digital analysis debunked the allegations, leading to the submission of the closure report.

The court's decision on whether to accept the report remains pending.