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NEET UG 2025: Accused Seek Bail, Deny Charges

Examination

NEET UG 2025: Accused Seek Bail, Deny Charges

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In a recent development in the ongoing NEET UG 2025 matter, Salim Patel, an education advisor, and Sandeep Shah, a businessman, two of the primary accused in the purported score manipulation case have submitted bail petitions in a Mumbai sessions court. Having been taken into judicial custody by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the two have claimed that they are unfairly implicated without any solid evidence. Early this month, the CBI detained both persons for allegedly participating in a scheme promising to change NEET UG 2025 candidates’ results. According to the FIR, Shah demanded a substantial amount of money—₹90 lakh per candidate—in exchange for correcting the results of their children. Insider or corrupt individuals connected to the National Testing Agency (NTA), which supervises NEET UG, allegedly assisted in the execution of the plot. First payments, the FIR claims, were made using hawala networks and cash. Many WhatsApp chats were recovered from Patel and Shah’s mobile phones during questioning, CBI sources say. According to these exchanges, candidate roll numbers, parent interviews, payments, and methods of manipulation were discussed. Along with hall tickets, admit cards, and OMR-related items considered linked to the exam, investigators also discovered copies of OMR. In court, the CBI claimed it needed ongoing custody of the defendants to examine over 1,600 pages of chat history and show fresh evidence. The court had previously granted a 14-day judicial custody on June 14 given the seriousness of the case and its wider repercussions on the NEET UG exam’s integrity, which affects the future of more than 2. 2 million candidates throughout. In their bail demands, the defendants have refuted the charges and described the case as unfounded. Patel’s petition stated that the case rested on speculation, gossip, and unverified information. He said he had no direct ties to the alleged fraud scheme and that there was no way to get the bribe money back. His appeal also stressed the absence of proof connecting him to any NTA employee and the fact that the FIR failed to name any governmental officials. The defense claimed that no candidate had admitted to any misbehavior or even verified that any service had been compensated with money. Shah’s bail plea made identical claims, denying all charges and asserting that he had been brought into the case unfairly and without cause. He said the FIR solely included his name based on conjecture and that he had no obvious link to the exam procedure. Shah should be free on bail since there was no physical or electronic evidence that he had either received money or submitted tampered scores. In the bail petitions, the need for extended detention has been questioned on the grounds that the CBI already had access to all of the digital data, even the defendant’s mobile phones. Furthermore, the defense underlined that there was no basis for continued custody and that the inquiry had failed to establish any link between NTA officials or evidence of manipulation of the real test results. The lawsuit once more raises issues about the NEET UG examination system’s transparency and fairness. Although there was no noteworthy paper leak this year, even the thought of score manipulation has provoked fury among parents and students. Many are urging the government and NTA to strengthen their systems and procedures in order to preserve the integrity of one of India’s most competitive entrance tests. Set for June 21 is the next hearing, when the court will go over the advantages of the bail applications. Simultaneously, the CBI is investigating the financial transactions, digital communications, and extent of the claimed conspiracy. If public attention grows, the case might have serious consequences for the examination procedure’s validity and the future of applicants who are uncertain about their status. 

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