CBI Uncovers NEET-UG 2025 Scam: Maharashtra Doctor, NTA Officials Implicated in Mark Manipulation

The scandal has cast a shadow over the NEET-UG 2025 exam, conducted on May 4, 2025, for over 2.2 million aspirants vying for 110,000 medical seats. Read the complete article and get more details here.

CBI Uncovers NEET-UG 2025 Scam

A shocking scam has come to light in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2025, with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) unearthing an alleged marks manipulation racket involving a Maharashtra doctor and suspected insiders of the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The controversy, which has put the integrity of India's premier medical entrance exam at risk, has sparked outrage among students and parents, with hashtags such as #NEETScam and #NEETUGResult trending on social media platforms. With 2.2 million candidates awaiting clarity on their medical admissions, the allegations have rekindled demands for transparency and accountability in the NEET-UG process.

NEET-UG 2025 Manipulation Allegations Surface

The CBI has registered a case against Solapur doctor Dr Sandeep Jawahar Shah and unknown NTA officials for allegedly hatching a scheme to manipulate NEET-UG 2025 marks. The racket targeted low-scoring candidates and promised to increase their marks for admission to prestigious government medical colleges in exchange for bribes of up to Rs 87.5 lakh.

Dr Shah, director of Indie Biosearch and Ratnadeep Dental Lab, and his partner, Salim Khubuddin Patel from Navi Mumbai allegedly lured parents by assuring them of enhanced marks hours before the official result declaration on June 14, 2025. Shah was caught red-handed in a CBI sting operation on June 9, 2025, which exposed a sophisticated network involving WhatsApp chats, NEET roll numbers, OMR sheets and hawala transactions.

NEET-UG 2025 Integrity Under Fire

The scam has also cast a shadow over the NEET-UG 2025 exam scheduled to be held on May 4, 2025. Over 2.2 million candidates are appearing for 110,000 medical seats in this exam. The CBI has seized evidence, including records of mobile phones containing incriminating chats and Rs 32.5 lakh in cash and Rs 75 lakh through hawala payments. While initial allegations pointed to insider collusion of the NTA, the CBI later clarified that there was no direct evidence linking the agency's officials to the scam, with the accused falsely claiming to be associated with the NTA to dupe parents.

However, the mere suggestion of corruption within the NTA has fueled distrust, with students questioning the fairness of the NEET-UG results and the allocation of government college seats, which offer affordable education compared to private institutions.

NEET-UG 2025 Public Outrage Grows

There is outrage among people on social media platforms, with #NEETisnotNEAT and #BJPkaNEETScam trending as students and parents demand a Supreme Court-led probe. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin called the scam a “moral turpitude”, triggering demands to scrap NEET-UG and restore medical admissions at the state level. Students, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, fear that their hard-earned ranks are being harmed by such rackets.

The arrest of Shah and Patel by the CBI on June 9 and 10, respectively, and their subsequent bail on June 21, 2025, due to non-recovery of the bribe amount, has further intensified demands for stricter oversight and accountability in the NEET-UG process.

NEET-UG 2025 Systemic Reforms Urged

The controversy follows the 2024 NEET-UG scam in which the paper was leaked, highlighting persistent weaknesses in India's examination system. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, was aimed at curbing such malpractices, but its effectiveness is now under scrutiny. The CBI continues to investigate possible links to a wider exam cheating network, with the third accused still absconding.

While the NTA is defending its processes, education activists are pushing for an independent audit of the agency and robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard the integrity of NEET-UG. With the future of lakhs of medical aspirants at stake, demands are growing for systemic reforms to ensure that the NEET-UG exam remains a fair gateway to India's medical education.