NEET Marks Manipulation Scam: Maharashtra doctor, NTA Officials Under CBI Scanner
Maharashtra- The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently busted the National Eligibility and Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2025 marks manipulation racket, allegedly involving a doctor from Solapur in Maharashtra and unidentified officials of the National Testing Agency (NTA).
An official press note has been issued by the CBI's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) in Mumbai in this case. According to the press note, a regular case was registered on June 9 after a sting operation confirmed that a conspiracy was being hatched to alter the NEET-UG scores of ineligible candidates in exchange for a hefty bribe.
The accused in the case has been identified as Dr Sandeep Jawahar Shah, a partner in a firm called Indie Biosearch, who was allegedly running a parallel business of academic fraud. He also owns a dental prosthesis company called Ratnadeep Dental.
CBI sources said Shah had claimed to have links with NTA officials and offered to “upgrade” the NEET scores of students who had failed to clear the exam, helping them secure admissions in government medical colleges for a sum of Rs 90 lakh. The payment was to be made in two instalments, with the promise of providing manipulated marks six hours before the official NEET-UG 2025 result declaration.
The accused, Dr Sandeep Jawahar Shah, was caught red-handed during verification by CBI officials posing as parents at ITC Grand Central Hotel in Parel, Mumbai, where he allegedly demanded Rs 87.5 lakh after negotiations. Following this, a case was registered against Shah and unknown NTA officials under Section 61(2) of the Indian Penal Code (BNS), 2023 and Section 7-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The CBI said it has handed over the case to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Sudhir Dhanda for further investigation and added that as the investigation progresses. In addition, more arrests are likely to take place, as it involves an alleged network of middlemen and officials.
Meanwhile, a CBI release stated that “While last year’s irregularities were painted as procedural mishaps or technical lapses, the 2025 case suggests active collusion and criminal intent. The involvement of NTA insiders, if proven, could force a serious re-evaluation of the autonomous testing agency’s integrity”.
