Ahmedabad: While the NEET question paper leak has already left honest candidates across the country distraught and angry, the racket appears to have expanded its operations. Fraudsters are now approaching unethical candidates and their parents with an alternative option — one that costs Rs 20 lakh and “guarantees score enhancement without having to bother about attempting difficult questions”.
A Times of India investigation has uncovered that individuals claiming links with educational consultancies and coaching institutes are approaching parents and aspirants on messaging platforms. They promise to fill unanswered questions after the exam to boost scores. Posing as a parent of a NEET aspirant, this reporter sought “help” from one such individual who had shared his number on a messaging platform. He called back identifying himself as “Aarav Singh”.
Claiming to be associated with a Bengaluru-based academy, Singh put a Rs 20 lakh price tag on the scheme and spelled out how it would work. He said the candidate must appear for the examination but leave questions they are unsure about unanswered. An “internal network” would then fill out the blank responses on the OMR sheet. “This process happens after the exam. You have to write the exam yourself. Whatever questions are left blank will be filled through a code number used to identify your OMR sheet,” the caller claimed.
The alleged operator demanded Rs 50,000 upfront as a “token fee for document verification”, with the remaining Rs 19.5 lakh payable after results are declared. He asked for copies of the aspirant’s Class X and Class XII mark sheets, the NEET-UG 2026 acknowledgement receipt, Aadhaar card, and a passport-sized photograph. He insisted that the initial payment be made online.
To build credibility, the caller shared details of a Bengaluru office and asked the reporter to seek an appointment for “discussing admission under management quota”. Further details were to be disclosed in person. When the reporter sought a guarantee, he repeatedly assured that not only would the OMR sheet be altered but the result itself would be “updated”.
This investigation highlights the growing menace of exam-related frauds, where fraudsters exploit the anxiety of students and parents. Authorities have been alerted to such schemes, and candidates are advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious offers to the police or examination boards.
