NEET exam cheating: 3 arrested in Delhi, 4 in Rajasthan as 'fake' candidates

NEET UG 2024 Exam Cheating Case

In a crackdown on cheating in the NEET-UG exams, authorities in Delhi and Rajasthan have arrested several individuals for allegedly appearing as imposters. Police reported on Monday that seven arrests were made in total across both states.

In New Delhi, three people were apprehended for acting as fake candidates during the NEET exams at centers located in South Delhi schools. The arrested individuals, identified as Abhishek (24), Gajraj (21), and Rakesh (21) from Rajasthan, were caught at Mount Columbus School in Dakshin Puri and Sarvodaya Co-ed Government School in Begumpur. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Ankit Chauhan stated that the local police were alerted by school authorities, leading to the arrests. Cases under various sections of the IPC have been registered, and further interrogation of the accused is underway.

Simultaneously, in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, a more elaborate scheme was uncovered. An MBBS student, Abhishek Gupta, was caught impersonating a NEET aspirant at the Master Adityendra School examination center. According to the police, Gupta was part of a racket involving his college mate Ravikant alias Ravi Meena and the aspirant's brother, Rahul Gurjar. A deal was struck for Rs 10 lakh, with Rs 1 lakh paid in advance. Both Gupta and Meena, along with Suraj Gurjar (the actual candidate) and Rahul Gurjar, have been arrested. Two other accomplices, identified as Amit alias Bunty and Dayaram, are currently under detention and expected to be arrested soon.

Superintendent of Police in Bharatpur, Mridul Kachawa, highlighted that this was not the first offence for some involved, as a prior cheating case had been registered against Ravikant at Ajmer's Kotwali police station. Following his arrest, Gupta was produced before a court which ordered a three-day police remand.

These arrests have shed light on the persistent issue of impersonation and fraud in competitive examinations, prompting authorities to tighten security measures at exam centers across the country.

(With inputs from PTI)