Oasis school sacks principal, deputy held over NEET 'leak'

Hazaribag: Oasis School's managing committee, led by its chairman Shabbir Ahmad, removed principal Ehsanul Haque and vice-principal Mohmamad Imtiyaz Alam from their positions on Thursday, a week after they were arrested by CBI for their alleged role in the NEET-UG paper leak case.

Arvind Kumar has been appointed the new principal of the school. The school issued the notification on Wednesday.

Haque and Alam were arrested by CBI last week after digital evidence suggested they had tampered with the question paper of the NEET-UG exam. They are currently in Beur jail, Patna, being interrogated by CBI.

Ahmad confirmed the decision, saying both individuals were removed from their posts in light of the ongoing CBI inquiry.

CBI had detained Haque and Alam on June 25 and officially arrested them on June 29. However, lack of immediate school management action against them drew criticism from many. Critics argued that the school should have promptly dismissed them.

Local residents mentioned that Haque had been associated with the school since its inception and was instrumental in securing affiliation for both Classes X and XII in 2020. They acknowledged that Haque was the face of the school, with many still unaware of Ahmad's role. Haque was credited with enhancing the school's facilities and establishing it as among the best in the region. "Haque is himself responsible for this sacking. He played with the future of lakhs of students," said a school source.

The genesis of the school and its mercurial rise in a short span of time is also being scrutinised by the CBI. The sprawling school building is constructed on plot number 134, which is khasmahal (land under govt ownership) land. The building was erected on a 1.75-acre plot previously owned by Arindam Sen, son of Umapada Sen, who allegedly gave them the land. CBI is also probing whether proper permissions were obtained from the khasmahal authority for the construction of such a large building. CBI is also looking into the matter.