NEET UG 2025 malpractice case: As the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test, or NEET-UG, is underway today, seven cases of malpractice have been reported so far from Bhubaneswar and Rajasthan. Four persons from Bhubaneswar have been arrested for allegedly taking money from NEET aspirants for admission to medical college. Similarly, reports from Rajasthan reveal that three were detained for ‘selling’ NEET paper for Rs 40 lakh in Jaipur.
According to the Odisha Police Commissioner, SD Singh, they were caught by the Special Crime Unit earlier today. As per their statement, the gang had plans to engage dummy candidates to write the examination, in exchange of a seat in a medical college.
The four arrested persons were identified as Priyadarshi Kumar from Jharkhand, Arvind Kumar from Bihar, and Sunil Samantray and Rudra Narayan Behera from Odisha. From Jaipur, the accused were identified as Balwan, 27, Mukesh Meena, 40, and Hardas, 38.
Took nearly Rs 20-30 lakh for seat, Rs 40 lakh for question paper
It was revealed that the detained individuals charged over Rs 40 lakh per candidate for the NEET-UG 2025 question paper. The police revealed that in Rajasthan’s Jaipur, the three took the student and his family members to Gurugram and asked for the money. Becoming suspicious, the student’s family asked them to show the paper. When they refused, they contacted the SOG, which apprehended the three on Saturday.
“The modus operandi involved local scouts who procured NEET aspirant details, including Aadhaar cards, facilitating their registration. Once the admit cards are obtained, they are transferred to operatives in Bihar. It is suspected that proxy candidates take the NEET exam by manipulating the admit card details,” a statement issued by Odisha police said.
The NEET-UG is scheduled today, Sunday for 2 PM. This three hour exam is held across the country for aspirants who wish to study medicine. Last year, the exam was held on May 5, 2024. It faced major controversy after the question paper was reportedly leaked in states like Bihar and Rajasthan. The National Testing Agency (NTA) had made arrests including exam centre staff and students involved in the NEET UG 2024 malpractice.
(with PTI inputs)