New Delhi [India]: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has detained two private individuals accused of duping aspiring NEET candidates by falsely promising to alter their NEET UG 2025 scores in exchange for large sums of money, according to an official statement. The case was registered on June 9 against the two accused residents of Solapur and Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, along with unknown others, for cheating NEET candidates and their families by claiming to have links with fake officials of the National Testing Agency (NTA).
The accused allegedly promised to increase the scores of low-performing candidates in NEET UG 2025 for substantial payments and even assured them they would get details of their purported score improvements six hours before the official results were announced. It was found that the accused was meeting parents at the ITC Grand Central Hotel in Parel, Mumbai, and was demanding Rs. 90 lakh per candidate, later negotiating down to Rs. 87.5 lakh. The investigation revealed that the accused falsely claimed to influence NTA officials and manipulate exam scores.
Furthermore, the accused was in contact with co-accused individuals who operate admission consultancy firms in Navi Mumbai and Pune. Forensic analysis of their mobile phones uncovered chats with details of prospective candidates, including roll numbers, admit cards, OMR sheets, and evidence of financial transactions made via Hawala networks. The accused was arrested in Mumbai on June 9, 2025, and the co-accused was detained in Sangli, Maharashtra, on June 10, 2025. Both have been presented before the Special CBI Court in Mumbai, which initially granted police custody until June 13, and later extended it until June 16.
The investigation has confirmed that no government officials or NTA personnel were involved in the scam; the accused had falsely claimed to have such connections. Further inquiries are ongoing.