New Delhi, India

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday (June 27) arrested two people from the east Indian state of Bihar in connection with the NEET-UG paper leak case.

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The two individuals, identified as Manish Prakash and Ashutosh, were arrested from Bihar's capital Patna.

As per a senior CBI official, the accused were operating from Patna where Ashutosh arranged safe house premises for the students and the other accused Manish took the candidates to a school to prepare them for the examination.

"Manish Prakash transported the students in his car. While the students were accommodated in Ashutosh's house," the CBI officer pointed out.

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The official said that both the accused were produced in the court.

These are the first arrests made by the federal agency after it took over the case.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) found itself in hot waters after students alleged irregularities in the medical entrance examination. This triggered several protests in the country with students seeking to disband the NTA.

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The unexpected results of the exam showed 67 candidates achieving a perfect score of 720 which raised concerns among students.

Also read: NEET-UG exam row: 'Solver gang' member who got solved question paper a day before exam arrested

The Ministry of Education said that it formed a high-level committee comprising experts who will suggest recommendations in the examination process to ensure smooth functioning and data security protocols.

The 7-member committee, helmed by ISRO's former chairman Dr K. Radhakrishnan, is slated to submit its report to the ministry in two months.

"In order to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations through the National Testing Agency (NTA), the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education constituted a High-Level Committee of Experts to make recommendations on reform in the mechanism of examination process improvement in data security protocols and the structure and functioning of National Testing Agency," the ministry said. 

(With inputs from agencies)