NEET UG-2024 Scam: CBI Probes Jodhpur Ayurvedic University Students for Alleged Proxy Test-Taking

Jodhpur- The investigation into the NEET UG-2024 examination fraud has cast a wide net, reaching the prestigious academic institutions of Rajasthan. For the past four days, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team has been stationed at Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Rajasthan Ayurvedic University in Jodhpur, intensifying its probe into allegations of widespread irregularities.

Sources reveal that approximately 10–12 second- and third-year students from the university are currently under interrogation, suspected of acting as proxy candidates—taking the exam on behalf of other aspirants in a meticulously orchestrated scam.

The CBI is employing advanced forensic techniques, cross-referencing photographs, signatures, and biometric data, alongside other technical evidence, to establish the involvement of these students.

The investigation, which originated in Patna, took a dramatic turn with the arrest of Huk/menuaram Godara, a third-year MBBS student at Jodhpur AIIMS. Godara was apprehended at the DAV School examination center in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, while attempting to impersonate Raj Pandey, the son of Dr. R.K. Pandey from Prayagraj. Sources indicate that Godara was promised a staggering ₹4 lakh to serve as a proxy candidate. However, his plan unraveled during biometric verification, which flagged discrepancies, leading to his immediate detention. This breakthrough exposed a deeper nexus, linking the fraud to Rajasthan’s academic hubs.

The Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) case, registered in connection with this matter, is being handled by its elite Delhi Special Unit. The agency is conducting a thorough technical investigation, meticulously examining students’ academic records, CCTV footage from examination centers, biometric data, and registration documents to uncover the extent of the malpractice.

Professor Pradeep Kumar Prajapati, Vice-Chancellor of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Rajasthan Ayurvedic University, addressed the situation, stating, “The CBI team is actively investigating irregularities in the NEET UG-2024 examination. Based on information obtained from apprehended members of the gang, there is suspicion of involvement by some of our students. We are fully cooperating with the authorities as the investigation progresses.” Should the CBI confirm the allegations of students acting as proxy candidates, those involved could face stringent legal consequences, including charges of fraud, cheating, and violations of examination laws. Additionally, the role of the implicated institutions may come under scrutiny, raising critical questions about oversight and accountability.