The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two individuals, Sandeep Jawahar Shah and Salim Patel, for allegedly orchestrating a high-value scam targeting parents of NEET-UG 2025 aspirants. The duo reportedly promised to manipulate examination scores in exchange for a hefty sum of ₹90 lakh. Acting on a tip-off, CBI officials posed as parents and met Shah at a luxury hotel in Lower Parel, Mumbai. During the undercover meeting, Shah initially demanded ₹90 lakh but later reduced the amount to ₹87.5 lakh, assuring access to National Testing Agency (NTA) officials who could allegedly alter exam scores.
The investigation soon expanded to include Salim Patel and another suspect, Javed Ali Patel, who reportedly accepted a ₹25 lakh advance payment through a hawala channel earlier in the week. Authorities believe the group had similarly defrauded other parents by offering score manipulation services under the guise of insider access to the NTA. Both Shah and Patel have been remanded to CBI custody until Monday as the probe continues.
When interrogated, Salim Patel gave inconsistent statements and claimed that the meeting was facilitated by a third party identified as Rajiv Sinha, who remains untraceable. During searches, the agency recovered multiple documents related to other NEET candidates, indicating that more students may have been victims of this racket. The CBI is now investigating the wider network and has not ruled out further arrests.
