Ahmedabad: As candidates prepare to retake the paper-leak-hit NEET, a Times of India investigation has uncovered fresh promises made by individuals associated with a Jharkhand institute to manipulate results for sums ranging from Rs 75 lakh to Rs 1 crore. The re-test is scheduled for June 21.
Alleged Offerings
The individuals have allegedly promised to provide access to question papers, manipulate OMR answer sheets, and facilitate admission to medical colleges in exchange for money. Posing as the parent of a medical aspirant, a TOI reporter contacted representatives of an institute operating from Jamshedpur. During telephonic conversations, individuals claiming to be employees of the institute offered what they described as an “end-to-end solution” for securing admission to a government medical college.
Claims of End-to-End Solution
One of the men, who identified himself as someone associated with the institute’s Golmuri branch, claimed that the network could arrange examination questions in advance, assist candidates during the examination, and even ensure admission to a preferred college. “We manage everything from providing questions to filling out the OMR sheet. We first assess the student’s capability,” the man said. “Depending on how the student performs, we can provide part of the question paper in advance.” The man added, “If the student is still unable to score adequately, they can leave the answer sheet blank and our people will take care of the rest. Admission to a government medical college, in South or East India, can then be arranged.”
Pricing Structure
He claimed that the amount demanded depended on the student’s academic ability and family background. According to him, the package could initially cost between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 30 lakh, with the final amount rising substantially depending on the services sought. A woman who claimed to be affiliated with the same institute said she had contacts at higher levels of the examination ecosystem and invited this reporter to an in-person meeting for a “more lucrative offer”.
Face-to-Face Meetings Required
During the conversation, the institute’s representatives repeatedly insisted that detailed discussions could only take place face-to-face. They claimed that candidates willing to spend between Rs 75 lakh and Rs 1 crore could secure not only favourable examination outcomes but also admission to a medical college of their choice.
Context of Previous Reports
The fresh claims come days after TOI reported the emergence of social media channels allegedly offering question papers for the reorganised NEET for Rs 60,000 to Rs 1 lakh and score-enhancement schemes costing up to Rs 20 lakh. In those cases, operators claimed candidates could leave difficult questions unanswered and rely on a network that would later fill the OMR sheets to secure adequate scores.
Warning to Aspirants
While there is no evidence that the individuals contacted have access to examination material or admission processes, the conversations indicate that fraudsters continue to target anxious students and parents amid uncertainty surrounding the re-examination.
Key Points of the Investigation
- A TOI investigation uncovered a Jharkhand-based institute allegedly offering illegal NEET-related services.
- Representatives claimed candidates could secure admission to a medical college by paying between Rs 75 lakh and Rs 1 crore.
- Services allegedly included advance access to question papers.
- The representatives claimed they could manipulate unanswered portions of OMR sheets after the examination.
- Admission to government medical colleges, particularly in South and East India, was promised.
