PATNA, July 24 -- The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday said it had thoroughly investigated Sanjeev Kumar Singh (known as Sanjeev Mukhia) in the 2024 NEET paper theft case two years ago and found no evidence tying him to either the theft or distribution of stolen papers. The agency's statement came after a political controversy surfaced on the 2024 case, amid a student protest in Delhi demanding the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. CBI said the case against Mukhiya was initially registered by Bihar Police. At the time, he was named as an accused because investigators suspected his involvement, given his alleged links to other paper leak cases. "After the probe was transferred to CBI, it identified everyone directly involved in stealing the question paper, distributing it and benefiting from the leak. The agency filed multiple charge sheets against 45 accused before special CBI court in Patna but did not include Sanjeev Mukhiya in any of them," it said. "As no evidence of his [Mukhiya's] involvement in NEET-UG 2024 case emerged during investigation, CBI did not file any charge sheet against him in this case, and he has accordingly availed bail in NEET-UG case. Sanjeev Mukhiya remained in judicial custody after his bail in CBIs case, he being an accused in certain other cases being investigated by Bihar police," the statement said. CBI said all facts were shared in 2024 itself and called the current controversy incorrect. "CBI has conducted a detailed investigation into the NEET (UG) 2024 theft case, identified all the persons involved, and ensured that none of them has escaped the process of law. This issue was clarified in the year 2024 itself adequately. The narrative going around now about his deliberate omission is factually incorrect," the statement added. Mukhiya still faces five other cases related to paper leaks , including three that were investigated by the economic offence unit (EoU) in Bihar. On August 2, 2025 he received bail after CBI failed to submit a charge sheet against him within the stipulated 90 days. Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in a post on X alleged: "In 2024, the NEET paper was leaked. The Modi government arrested the mastermind behind it. Then, CBI deliberately did not file the charge sheet within the time limit, which allowed him to get automatic bail within just three months."...