Proxy racket during NEET retest raises fresh concerns
Bihar Police have uncovered an alleged NEET-UG retest proxy racket in Lakhisarai that reportedly took place during Sunday’s NEET-UG retest. The case has triggered fresh concerns over exam centre security, biometric verification and insider access during one of India’s most sensitive entrance tests. At least 24 people were reported arrested in the case, while some reports placed the wider police action at up to 30 people, including alleged impersonators, candidates, medical students and biometric company staff.
Investigators suspect that the racket arranged trained “solvers” to appear in place of genuine candidates during the retest. The case reportedly came to light after suspicious activity was noticed at examination centres in Lakhisarai. Several alleged fake candidates were caught during the process, with some cases linked to biometric mismatch and suspected identity manipulation.
Police are probing whether insiders connected to the verification process helped the accused bypass checks at exam centres. The alleged involvement of biometric company employees has made the case more serious, as the verification system is meant to prevent impersonation and protect the integrity of national-level exams.
Medical students and exam staff under scanner
The investigation reportedly began after Mayank Kashyap, a third-year MBBS student from Patna Medical College and Hospital, was allegedly caught entering Hasanpur High School examination centre while posing as a biometric company employee. His detention led police to conduct further searches at other Lakhisarai exam centres, where more suspects were taken into custody.
Police are also examining the alleged role of Arpit Raj, a medical student from ANM Medical College and Hospital in Gaya, who is suspected to be among the key accused in the network. Raj had earlier faced questioning in connection with the 2024 NEET paper leak case, adding another layer to the investigation.
Among those arrested or detained were students from medical and nursing backgrounds. A nursing student from Banaras Hindu University was allegedly caught appearing on behalf of another candidate, while names linked to AIIMS Rae Bareli, Shahdara Medical College in Delhi and Nalanda Medical College and Hospital also came under the scanner.
The case has raised questions over how students allegedly left their campuses despite restrictions during the NEET exam period. Some institutions had reportedly arranged seminars and monitoring activities to keep students on campus, but police found that a few accused were absent. One student allegedly left college citing illness before being caught in Lakhisarai.
The Bihar Police investigation is now focused on identifying the full network, checking whether more candidates used proxy solvers, and finding out how biometric safeguards were allegedly bypassed. The case is likely to increase pressure on authorities to tighten verification, strengthen centre-level monitoring and improve safeguards before future medical entrance examinations.
