The CBI has extended police custody of two individuals in a NEET UG 2025 scam case. Accused of offering fake score manipulation for ₹87.5 lakh per candidate, they allegedly misled families using false NTA connections. Investigations reveal digital evidence, hawala links, and multiple associates.
The Special CBI Court in Mumbai has extended the police custody of two individuals until June 16. The duo, arrested earlier this week, are at the center of a scam where they allegedly promised to inflate the examination scores of low-ranking candidates in exchange for large sums of money.
The two accused were initially remanded in police custody until June 13. However, after reviewing the evidence and ongoing investigation led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the court decided to extend their remand to allow authorities more time to probe the matter. Both individuals were apprehended in separate locations—one in Mumbai on June 9 and the other the following day in Sangli District.
The scam first came to light when the CBI registered a case on June 9 following a complaint involving false promises made to NEET aspirants and their families. According to the CBI, the accused allegedly claimed to have strong connections within the National Testing Agency (NTA), the body responsible for conducting the NEET examination. They assured candidates and their families that they could “fix” the results by inflating scores, all for a steep price.
The accused initially demanded ₹90 lakh per candidate. Upon negotiation, this amount was reduced slightly to ₹87.5 lakh. The investigation revealed that meetings with the parents of candidates were held at a hotel in the Parel area of Mumbai, where the duo made fraudulent claims about their influence over NTA officials. They also promised to provide tampered results at least six hours before the official score release.
Digital forensic analysis played a crucial role in uncovering the extent of the scam. Mobile phones seized from the accused contained incriminating evidence, including WhatsApp messages and emails with detailed information about candidates. The data included roll numbers, admit cards, scanned copies of OMR sheets, and records of financial transactions. Notably, many of these transactions were routed through hawala channels, pointing to a broader nexus potentially involving money laundering.
Further investigations have unveiled links to additional suspects, including a co-accused who operates an admission consultancy service in Navi Mumbai and another individual running a similar scam from Pune. Authorities are currently pursuing leads that could help identify and apprehend others involved in the fraudulent operation.
Importantly, the CBI has so far not found any involvement of actual government officials or NTA personnel. Preliminary findings suggest that the accused misled candidates and their families by falsely claiming official connections. The Special CBI Court, acknowledging the seriousness and complexity of the case, agreed to extend the custody of the accused to facilitate deeper investigation and potentially uncover a larger network of fraud.
The NEET UG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate) is a highly competitive examination in India, serving as a gateway to medical and dental colleges across the country. Any breach in its sanctity, such as this alleged manipulation of results, can have wide-ranging implications on merit-based admissions and public trust in national testing mechanisms.
This incident has raised fresh concerns about the growing commercialization of education and the pressure placed on students to succeed at any cost. Experts have called for tighter surveillance and improved digital security systems in national examination processes to prevent future incidents of fraud.
As the investigation continues, the spotlight remains on the CBI’s efforts to dismantle this fraudulent network and bring all those responsible to justice. The court is expected to review the progress of the investigation again on June 16, when the accused will be presented for the next hearing.
