The Crime branch of Delhi Police has dismantled a syndicate that allegedly defrauded NEET aspirants, extorting Rs 20-30 lakh from each guardian under the guise of guaranteed MBBS admissions. Among the four individuals arrested in this case is a doctor, identified as the alleged mastermind.
Modus Operandi of the Gang
The gang demanded these substantial sums as donations for admission under management and other quotas, according to police officials. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav stated that raids also led to the rescue of 18 students, including minors, who were held captive by the syndicate in various hotels across Delhi-NCR.
Investigation Triggered by a Tip-Off
The police initiated their investigation after receiving a crucial lead from Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut regarding a mobile number linked to suspicious NEET brokering activities in Delhi. With the exam scheduled for May 3, authorities launched a technical surveillance operation. The number was traced to Mahipalpur Extension, prompting an extensive search.
Raids and Rescue Operations
Nearly 100 hotels in southwest Delhi’s Mahipalpur were scrutinized before the trail led to a hotel where four suspects from Gujarat were staying. Among them was Vinod Bhai Bhikha Bhai Patel, identified as a key recruiter. Complainants present at the scene informed police that the accused had already collected large sums of money, original Class X and XII certificates, and signed blank cheques as collateral in exchange for promised medical seats. Investigators discovered that several students had been taken away from their guardians to undisclosed locations under the pretext of receiving important or leaked exam questions.
Using technical inputs, police laid a trap near a hospital in Ghaziabad, where three students were rescued and Santosh Kumar Jaiswal was arrested. Further raids at a flat in Ghaziabad led to the rescue of 15 more students, some minors, who were to appear for NEET the following day. After counseling, all were allowed to sit for the examination.
Profiles of the Accused
The other two accused, Sant Pratap Singh and Dr. Akhlaq Alam, were apprehended from the same flat. Police found that Jaiswal, a 50-year-old graduate from Bihar who ran a pathology lab, was instrumental in designing the fraud. Dr. Alam, 25, who completed his MBBS from Kyrgyzstan and is preparing for the screening test to practice in India, handled the academic facade by compiling a 149-page set of special questions drawn from previous years’ papers and coaching material to make them appear authentic. Singh, a 59-year-old BTech graduate and property dealer with holdings in Ghaziabad and Pune, arranged logistics, including flats where students were housed and deals were finalized. Patel, a 52-year-old broker from Surat, sourced aspirants and their families, convincing them to pay.
Evidence and Legal Action
Police have seized the 149-page document, three signed blank cheques, and other evidence. A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for cheating and conspiracy. The arrested accused are in custody, and police are working to identify other middlemen involved in the syndicate.
