Old Goa (Goa): The Goa police have zeroed-in on the main conspirator in the infamous National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) impersonation case, two days after four persons were arrested for appearing on behalf of genuine candidates at Old Goa and Verna.

A man known as Ojha, originally from Patna-Bihar is said to have hired Muhammad Chanchal, Abhishek Singh, Randhir Singh and Shailendra Pra, all natives of Bihar to answer the competitive exam in place of genuine candidates. The foursome, who were planted at examination centres at two private schools in Old Goa and Verna, were caught red-handed and handed over to the police by the examiners.

However, the linchpin is still at large. “He (Ojha) sent us to Goa to answer the test on behalf of the registered candidates. We got our photo identity cards with names of genuine candidates and other documents to produce at the time of examination. Ojha promised us a lump sum amount only after we secured minimum 50 percent result,” an officer told TNV quoting the reported confession of one of the arrested accused during custodial interrogation.

The local police have flashed an alert message to Bihar counterparts to ascertain the absconder’s complete identity and trace his whereabouts. “We suspect a bigger racket. Managing a fake identity proof and sending across the impersonators to different examination centres, can be a handiwork of a professional scamster. We are in touch with our counterparts in Bihar,” a senior IPS officer revealed.   The probe will also focus on whether the arrested accused ever impersonated other candidates previously and if Ojha is operating the racket in other states as well.

What’s interesting to note is that the accused allegedly never attempted answering any entrance exams during their schooling days. While Goa has always been a centre for NEET exams, the State for the first time has made compulsory answering the exams for admissions to medical, dental, homeopathy and ayurveda courses – following directives from the Centre.

Team TNV