NEET-UG Cheating Scandal Busted in Godhra; 5 Arrested, Cheques Worth Rs 2.3 Crore Seized
NEET-UG Cheating Scandal Busted in Godhra; 5 Arrested, Cheques Worth Rs 2.3 Crore Seized
In a significant crackdown on exam malpractice, the Gujarat police have arrested five individuals, including the principal of Jalaram School in Godhra, for allegedly orchestrating a cheating scheme during the NEET-UG examination held on May 5. The accused, identified as school teacher Tushar Bhatt, Parshuram Roy of Roy Overseas (an education consultancy firm), and school principal Purshottam Sharma, among others, were reportedly involved in a pay-for-pass plot.
The students were allegedly instructed to leave blanks on their answer sheets, which the teacher would later fill in to ensure they passed the exam. This scandal surfaces amid ongoing controversies regarding the integrity of the NEET-UG exams, with multiple allegations of paper leaks already causing widespread concern.
The Superintendent of Police (SP) in Godhra, revealed that the arrests were made following a tip-off received by the Panchmahal district collector. The district education officer, upon investigating Bhatt’s phone, discovered a list of 30 students involved in the scheme. Additionally, ₹7 lakh in cash was recovered from Bhatt’s car.
Further investigations led to the arrest of Parshuram Roy and the seizure of eight blank cheques along with another set of cheques worth ₹2.3 crore. These cheques were reportedly signed by the parents of students who had taken the NEET-UG exams at Jalaram School.
According to the police, Parshuram Roy had introduced the NEET aspirants to Tushar Bhatt, who was not only a physics teacher at the school but also the deputy superintendent for the exam, a position appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA). This connection facilitated the cheating operation, with Bhatt playing a pivotal role in manipulating the exam results.
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by educational institutions and authorities in maintaining the integrity of competitive examinations. The police are continuing their investigations to uncover the full extent of the scam and any additional individuals involved.
