New Delhi: In what will be a big relief for those who cleared NEET-UG 2025, it has now been confirmed that there was no manipulation in scores, as alleged earlier after the arrest of a doctor from Maharashtra. Had the allegations turned out to be correct, a demand may have arisen for re-evaluation of the whole process.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) swung into action after coming to know that Dr Sandeep Jawahar Shah of Solapur, Maharashtra, and his associate Salim Khubbuddin Patel of Navi Mumbai were collecting money from people with a promise to get their children on the NEET-UG 2025 merit list by manipulating marks.
The two claimed that they had contacts with insiders in the National Testing Agency (NTA), in charge of the NEET-UG exams. They demanded Rs 90 lakh per candidate.
The CBI laid a trap and arrested Shah. Sleuths, posing as parents, met the doctor at the ITC Grand Central in Parel, Mumbai, where he settled for Rs 87.5 lakh after negotiations. Two independent witnesses were present during the operation. Patel was also arrested.
During investigation, it came to be known that neither Shah nor Patel had any contacts with people in the NTA. They were simply running a racket to cheat people and their plan was to disappear after collecting a substantial amount. Those who paid would also hesitate to go to the authorities.
While the CBI is looking for others involved in the racket, a special court granted bail to Shah and Patel on Saturday after they agreed to be present during hearings and assist the agency in its probe.
“What is important here is that it has been confirmed that the NEET-UG 2025 results have not been compromised,” an official said.
