Solver gang busted in Bihar: 2 MBBS students arrested over biometric manipulation, ghostwriting in NEET 2026
Patna: In connection with irregularities in the NEET UG 2026 and the subsequent re-examination, the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police has arrested two final-year MBBS students of Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences, Pawapuri, Nalanda, for their alleged involvement in a racket that used fake documents and biometric manipulation to arrange 'solvers' for candidates.
The two accused have been identified as a resident of Motihari in East Champaran, and another of Shahjahanpur in Patna.
While the team arrested the first accused on August 11 outside an examination centre at Aryabhatta Knowledge University (AKU), Patna, where he had gone to appear for his MBBS third-year supplementary examination, the other was arrested at the same centre on August 12.
As per the investigators, the Patna-based medico is alleged to be the mastermind of a gang that provided 'ghostwriters' to candidates appearing for Re-NEET examination in Lakhisarai on June 21.
The investigation has found that the gang allegedly charged Rs 12 lakh to Rs 30 lakh per candidate for arranging solvers who would appear in examinations in place of the actual candidates.
The EOU is investigating four cases related to irregularities in the NEET-UG exam held on May 3 and the re-NEET exam held on June 21.
One case was registered at Giriyak police station in Nalanda in connection with the May 3 examination, while three cases were registered at Kawaiya police station in Lakhisarai over the June 21 re-examination.
Commenting on this, EOU DIG Manavjit Singh Dhillon told TOI, "The EOU has taken over the investigation of all 4 cases due to their seriousness. Initial investigation was done by Nalanda and Lakhisarai district police. Later, an SIT under the supervision of EOU ADG and led by SP, EOU was formed for further probe."
How the racket operated
The gang involving the medicos reportedly arranged the original candidate and the solver during the enrolment process itself. With the help of authorised UIDAI Aadhaar agents and common service centre operators, they allegedly replaced the original candidate’s biometrics with those of the solver and mixed their photographs to bypass verification.
They then allegedly prepared fake income, caste and disability certificates as well, which were used by successful candidates during medical college counselling.
The investigation has also pointed to the involvement of students from medical, nursing and dental colleges, biometric manpower suppliers and vendors from Lakhisarai, Hajipur, Nawada and Nalanda, besides people allegedly involved in preparing fake Aadhaar and other documents. Notices are being sent to persons whose admit cards, caste certificates, disability certificates and blank cheques were seized for questioning.
As per the investigation findings, Patna medico is also an accused in a case registered at Kodha police station in Katihar for allegedly arranging around seven fake solvers during NEET-UG 2024 at a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya.
He is currently out on anticipatory bail from the Patna High Court. The CBI had also questioned him in 2024 in connection with alleged solver fraud in a case registered at Madhubani police station in Purnia.
An SUV and Rs 2,95,000 in cash allegedly collected for arranging fake solvers were seized from him. Three accused have already been arrested by Nalanda police.
The other accused, is also an accused in a Railway Group-D recruitment exam fraud case in Nihalganj, Deeg, Rajasthan. He is currently out on bail. He passed Class 12 in 2012 and cleared NEET in 2022. Since then, he has allegedly been running a racket to help candidates clear NEET and other competitive exams through fraud, charging Rs 12-30 lakh per candidate.
The alleged mastermind's wife is also allegedly associated with the NEET-UG examination racket. She was earlier accused of impersonating a candidate in the AEDO examination.
"His wife, an OBC candidate, had a fake SC caste certificate made from Sairpur Block office, Patna. She is also accused of using a solver in Re-NEET. Her arrest is stayed by court due to pregnancy," the DIG said.
During raids at the alleged mastermind's brother’s residence and a rented flat in different apartments, the investigators found that the accused had invested in an online exam centre anticipating future NEET exams could be conducted in computer-based test (CBT) mode.
