NEET Candidates From Various States Asked To Choose Gujarati As Exam Language, CBI Probe Reveals

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has uncovered a huge development in the malpractice scheme in the NEET-UG 2024 examination, implicating several candidates and officials in Gujarat's Godhra. According to the CBI, candidates from various states, including Odisha, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, were manipulated to select Gujarati as their language for writing the exam and falsely declare local addresses to facilitate cheating.

Follow LIVE Updates on Supreme Court Hearing 

Candidates from non-Gujarati states were allegedly coerced into choosing Gujarati as their examination language. This move was designed to allow local individuals involved in the plan to fill out the answer sheets on behalf of the candidates. The accused directed candidates to list their permanent addresses as Panchmahal or Vadodara, even if they were from other states. This detail emerged from the CBI’s investigation into the malpractices at two examination centres in Godhra.

The CBI discovered that both examination centres were under the same operators' control, indicating a coordinated effort to facilitate the cheating process. Candidates were contacted through various intermediaries linked to the accused. Five out of the six main accused, including Dixit Patel, the owner of Jai Jalaram School in Godhra, are now in CBI custody. Patel was arrested on June 30 and is alleged to have demanded Rs 10 lakh from each candidate to ensure their success in the NEET-UG exam.

The CBI took over the case from the Gujarat police last month and is now probing interstate links as part of a broader conspiracy. The investigation aims to uncover the full extent of the malpractice network. The CBI has arrested 11 individuals and registered six FIRs in connection with the case. The charges range from paper leaks to impersonation and cheating. One FIR in Bihar is linked to paper leaks, while the others from Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra pertain to impersonation and fraud.

Data Analytics of Results Showed No Mass Malpractice: Centre to SC

‘Exam Irregularities Limited to Centres in Patna, Godhra’: NTA

NEET-UG Counselling From July 3rd Week, Not For Retest: Centre to SC

The CBI continues its probe into the NEET-UG examination malpractices, focusing on dismantling the interstate network involved in this scheme. The investigation underscores the need for stringent measures to ensure the integrity of competitive examinations in India. This scandal has raised serious concerns about the fairness of the NEET-UG examination, crucial for aspiring medical students across the country. The CBI's ongoing efforts aim to bring all involved parties to justice and restore trust in the examination process.