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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two individuals from Maharashtra for allegedly orchestrating a scam targeting NEET-UG 2025 aspirants and their families. The accused, identified as Sandeep Shah from Solapur and Salim Patel from Navi Mumbai, are accused of falsely promising to manipulate exam scores in exchange for hefty payments, exploiting the anxieties of students and parents during the high-stakes medical entrance examination season.
How the Scam Operated
According to the CBI, the duo claimed to have insider connections within the National Testing Agency (NTA), the body responsible for conducting the NEET examination. They approached parents of low-scoring candidates, offering to inflate their children’s scores for a fee initially set at Rs 90 lakh per candidate, later negotiated to Rs 87.5 lakh. Meetings with parents reportedly took place at the upscale ITC Grand Central hotel in Mumbai’s Parel area, where the accused assured clients that they would receive the manipulated scores six hours before the official results were declared.
Investigation and Evidence
The scam came to light after the CBI registered a case on June 9, 2025. Sandeep Shah was arrested in Mumbai on June 9, followed by Salim Patel’s arrest in Sangli district on June 10. Both suspects were presented before the Special CBI Court in Mumbai, which initially remanded them to police custody until June 13, later extending it to June 16 to facilitate further investigation.
A forensic analysis of mobile phones seized from the accused revealed incriminating evidence, including chat records containing NEET roll numbers, admit cards, OMR sheet details, and records of financial transactions routed through hawala networks. Investigators also uncovered links to admission consultancy firms in Navi Mumbai and Pune, allegedly used to lure more victims into the racket.
No Evidence of NTA or Government Official Involvement
The CBI has clarified that, so far, there is no evidence implicating any government officials or NTA personnel in the scam. The accused are believed to have misled parents by fabricating claims of internal access to the examination process, thereby giving credibility to their fraudulent scheme.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities are continuing their probe to identify additional victims and potential accomplices, as leads suggest the involvement of a broader network spanning multiple consultancy firms and financial intermediaries7.
“The investigation has not found any involvement of government officials or NTA personnel with the accused persons in the case. The accused misled parents by falsely claiming connections with NTA officials,” a CBI spokesperson stated.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on information available from official CBI statements and multiple news reports as of June 15, 2025. The investigation is ongoing, and further details may emerge. No government officials or NTA personnel have been found involved in the scam as per current findings. Readers are advised to rely only on official channels for updates regarding NEET-UG examinations and results.
