The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two persons for cheating NEET UG 2025 candidates and their families on Saturday for cheating on the NEET UG 2025 candidates and their families by false promises to manipulate the examination marks in lieu of a large amount of money. The CBI had filed a case against the accused living in Solapur and Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra on June 9, allegedly claiming that they had access to the National Testing Agency (NTA) officials conducting the NEET exam.
The investigation also revealed the relations between the accused and others running the admission counseling firm in Navi Mumbai and Pune. Forensic analysis of mobile phone recovered from the accused revealed several important evidence including details, roll number, admit card, scanned OMR sheet and hawala-based financial transaction records.
On June 9, 2025, the CBI registered a case for fraud and criminal conspiracy against Sandeep Shah of Solapur and Salim Patel of Navi Mumbai as well as unknown others. The accused targeted NEET candidates with low -marks, assuring them that they could increase their marks through internal manipulation – a proposal on payment of Rs 90 lakh per candidate, later a conversation was held for Rs 87.5 lakh.
Investigators revealed that the accused held meetings with parents at Hotel ITC Grand Central in Parel, Mumbai. During these meetings, the accused claimed that they had access to senior NTA officials and they could tamper with NEET UG 2025 results. He also assured the parents that the candidates would get their increased marks six hours before the official result is declared.
Sandeep Shah was arrested in Mumbai on 9 June, while his partner Salim Patel was arrested a day later in Sangli district of Maharashtra. Both were produced in a special CBI court in Mumbai, which initially kept them in police custody till 13 June. Later, this remand was extended till 16 June to facilitate further investigation.
The CBI has clarified that no government official or NTA personnel were involved in this scam. The accused falsely claimed to have contact within the NTA to cheat parents and win their confidence. The agency continues to investigate the broad network behind the operation of fraud. Pointing to a broad network associated with consultancy firms and financial mediators, the CBI investigation continues. Officers are working to identify more victims and determine the full limit of the scam.