In a major breakthrough in the ongoing NEET-UG 2026 controversy, Bihar Police have dismantled an alleged proxy examination syndicate operating in Lakhisarai district, arresting 24 individuals, including students from reputed medical colleges across the country. The action comes just a day after the nationwide NEET-UG re-examination was conducted on June 21.
Investigators claim the network arranged for proxy candidates to write the medical entrance exam in exchange for hefty payments, with deals reportedly ranging between ₹30 lakh and ₹40 lakh per candidate.
Medical Students From Top Institutes Among Those Held
The investigation has revealed the alleged involvement of students linked to prestigious institutions, including Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), Gaya Medical College, AIIMS Raebareli and Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
According to police, these individuals were allegedly recruited to impersonate genuine NEET aspirants and appear for the examination using fraudulent means.
Raids Across Exam Centres Lead to Multiple Arrests
Police conducted simultaneous operations at several examination centres in Lakhisarai, including Government High School Hasanpur, KRK Higher Secondary School and Kendriya Vidyalaya, leading to the arrests.
Authorities also detained 14 personnel associated with the biometric verification agency, intensifying concerns over possible security failures and identity verification lapses during the examination process.
Mastermind Nabbed, Digital Evidence Seized
Officials confirmed that the suspected kingpin behind the operation has also been taken into custody.
During the raids, investigators recovered mobile phones, documents and other electronic evidence, which are now being examined to trace the full network and identify candidates, middlemen and facilitators who may have benefited from the alleged fraud.
Police Probe May Expand Beyond Bihar
Lakhisarai Superintendent of Police Prerna Kumar said the investigation is focused on determining whether the racket operated only within the district or had links to examination centres in other states.
Digital forensic teams are analysing seized devices to uncover financial transactions, communication records and possible interstate connections.
NEET 2026 Under Fresh Spotlight
The latest arrests have added another layer of controversy to NEET-UG 2026, which has already faced allegations of question paper leaks and irregularities.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted a nationwide re-examination on June 21 after cancelling the original May 3 test amid an ongoing probe into suspected leaks.
More than 22 lakh candidates appeared for the re-test across 5,440 examination centres in 551 Indian cities and 14 international locations, with authorities implementing biometric verification, enhanced surveillance and strict security protocols to safeguard the examination process.
