Kashmir Digits

NEET Scam: A CBI investigation has revealed a major scam in NEET medical exams which saw impersonators took the exam instead of students asking them to pay Rs. 50 lakhs.

A Maharashtra-based coaching centre RK Education Career Guidance, its Director Parimal Kotpalliwar and several students have been charged in the scam, sources in the CBI said, adding that candidates were charged as much as ₹ 50 lakh assuring admission in government medical colleges.

The revelation comes amid a string of suicides in Tamil Nadu that prompted Chief Minister MK Stalin to make an emotional appeal last week to students stricken by the outcome of the test.

The involvement of more than one student is being highlighted in this case. As per sources while some had used proxy or exam solvers, in some cases the OMR sheets were manipulated and some applicants had modified their data.

As reported by The Hindu, usernames and passwords of students were obtained and changes were made in their admit cards, photographs were morphed, copies of e-Aadhar were made to ensure entry of proxy candidates into exam centres.

Earlier, NEET question paper was floated outside the exam centre via WhatsApp. The police arrested 18-year-old candidate Dineshwari Kumari along with invigilator Ram Singh, in charge of the exam centre’s administration unit Mukesh, Dineshwari’s uncle and four others were also nabbed in connection with the case.

CBI FIR reveals morphed photos, copies of Aadhar.

As reported by The Hindu, usernames and passwords of students were obtained and changes were made in their admit cards, photographs were morphed, copies of e-Aadhar were made to ensure entry of proxy candidates into exam centres.

“Information further revealed that the user IDs and passwords of candidates appearing for the examination have been collected by Parimal and his associates and necessary modifications have been made for getting desired examination centres as planned by them. They also use the process of mixing/morphing photographs to facilitate use of proxy candidates for appearing in the examination. Copies of e-Aadhaar card of candidates were being collected for the purpose of making forged ID cards. Parimal also assured candidates of providing answer keys and manipulating OMR sheets”, the FIR stated.

The CBI’s FIR, accessed further, stated, “Information revealed that Parimal Kotpalliwar solicits the aspiring candidates by offering them admission in top government medical colleges by adopting fraudulent means and unfair practices.

The parents of prospective candidates have been contacted and are being assures of admission in medical colleges by manipulating the process of examination being conducted by NEET by using proxy candidates.”

The CBI probe further revealed that the parents of the medical aspirants were asked to deposit post-dated cheques of the agreed amount and original mark sheets of the candidate for Class 10 and Class 12 as security which the coaching centre would return after realising the agreed amount which is up to Rs 50 lakh.

Though five proxy candidates were set up for the NEET examination held on September 12 by Parimal Kotpalliwar, agency sources say those proxies didn’t turn up at the exam centres while the agency officials were waiting at the centres to catch them red handed.