NPN

Outrage over exam paper leaks is spreading across the country. Following protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar against the NEET paper leak, students in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, are now protesting against alleged irregularities in the JPSC recruitment examination. Notably, incidents of paper leaks have been surfacing continuously from various states across the country recently, fueling growing anger among students and their families. The central government has now taken a major decision regarding these cases; reports indicate that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has stepped in to investigate the paper leak incidents. **ECIRs Registered in These States** The central government appears to be taking a tough stance on paper leak cases. The ED has initiated pan-India action and registered ECIRs (Enforcement Case Information Reports) across several states. According to available information, these ECIRs have been registered in Rajasthan, Haryana, Guwahati, Bihar (Patna), Karnataka (Bengaluru), Maharashtra, and Jharkhand. The ED has taken over the FIRs previously registered in these states. The agency is also expected to intervene soon in the NEET-UG paper leak case. **No 'My State vs. Your State' Distinction** In these cases, the ED will investigate the 'proceeds of crime' (income generated from the offense), the money trail, and financial transactions. The central government has issued a strict directive that the ED will investigate the money trail in any state where a paper leak has occurred. The government's mandate is clear: distinctions based on "my state" versus "your state" will not apply in this matter. Consequently, the ED has registered ECIRs for all incidents of paper leaks. Notably, the ED registered an ECIR a week ago based on the FIR previously filed by the CID in Ranchi. **Parliament Passed the Anti-Paper Leak Bill** It is worth noting that Parliament recently passed a significant bill—the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) (Amendment) Bill, 2026—to ensure strict action against paper leaks. This bill has received the President's assent and has now become law. Under this law, it is mandatory to complete the investigation into paper leak cases within two months. Individuals found guilty in paper leak cases face a prison term ranging from a minimum of five years to a maximum of ten years, along with a fine of up to ₹50 lakh. Meanwhile, for cases linked to organized crime, the law provides for a minimum prison sentence of seven years and a fine of up to ₹10 crore.