By Prateek Chauhan
New Delhi: In a major crackdown on education fraud, the Crime Branch of Delhi Police has dismantled a well-oiled racket that duped NEET aspirants and their families with false promises of securing MBBS admissions. Eighteen students – some of them minors – were rescued from the clutches of the accused, exposing a chilling network exploiting the desperation surrounding medical entrance exams.
Acting on a tip-off from Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut, Delhi Police traced a suspect operating from the capital who claimed he could guarantee admissions through NEET (UG) 2026. A coordinated operation, involving inputs from Surat Crime Branch, led investigators to Mahipalpur Extension, where an extensive search of nearly 100 hotels was carried out.
The breakthrough came when four suspects from Gujarat, including Vinod Bhai Bhikha Bhai Patel, were found lodged in a hotel. Interrogation revealed a sophisticated con: parents were promised assured MBBS seats in exchange for hefty sums ranging between ₹20–30 lakh. The accused collected cash, original academic documents, and even blank signed cheques from victims.
According to DCP Crime Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, the racket went a step further by isolating students from their families under the pretext of providing “leaked” exam questions. A trap laid near a hospital in Ghaziabad led to the rescue of three students and the arrest of alleged mastermind Santosh Kumar Jaiswal.
Subsequent raids at a Ghaziabad flat uncovered 15 more students, all preparing for NEET (UG) 2026 scheduled on May 3. The students were later counselled and allowed to appear for the examination.
Two more accused—Sant Pratap Singh and Dr. Akhlaq Alam alias Golden Alam—were arrested from the flat. Police said Alam, a doctor, played a key role in fabricating question papers using content lifted from previous years’ exams and coaching institute material, lending the racket a false sense of credibility.
Investigators recovered 149 pages of fake question-answer material, blank signed cheques, and other incriminating documents. The accused are currently in police custody, with further investigations underway to uncover the full extent of the network, including middlemen involved in targeting aspirants.
DCP Yadav further said the case highlights the dark underbelly of India’s fiercely competitive medical entrance system, where desperation is being weaponised by organised fraudsters preying on vulnerable families seeking a future in medicine.
(Cover Representative Image: AI Generated)
Admission Scamcrime branchDelhi PoliceDoctorEducationIndiaMBBSNEETNEET AspirantsStudents