Ahmedabad: Even as the 2026 National Eligibility-cum Entrance Test (NEET) remains embroiled in controversy following its cancellation over an alleged paper leak and an ongoing CBI probe, fresh racketeers have resurfaced online, with several Telegram channels allegedly promising access to `Re-NEET question papers’ and `guaranteed scores’ in exchange for hefty payments.An application has been submitted to the city’s cybercrime police seeking an investigation into whether these Telegram channels possess genuine examination material or are merely exploiting students and parents keen to `buy’ a good score in the re-NEET exam to be held on June 21 through an elaborate fraud.The alleged racket operates through multiple Telegram channels, many of which frequently change names and admit members only through referrals. The channels claim to provide Re-NEET question papers for amounts ranging from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1 lakh. Some groups reportedly demand payments up to Rs 20 lakh for top scores of 620-plus out of 700.“You have to pay a token amount of Rs 50,000 and meet our boss personally in our Bengaluru office. On the day of the exam, leave the OMR sheets empty. We have a setting with the key agencies and will ensure that right answers are filled and students get a 620-plus score. Total charge will be Rs 20 lakh,” a channel operator on Telegram told TOI reporter who was posing as a parent of a NEET aspirant.One alleged operator, who introduced himself as a faculty member associated with a prominent coaching institute in Delhi, claimed during a conversation with city-based activist Shubham Thaker that the leaked paper was genuine. “The man claimed that his network purchased half of the paper for Rs 35 lakh and that the remaining questions would be available closer to the examination date. He allegedly assured prospective buyers that the network enjoyed protection from influential individuals and asked candidates to transfer money through a QR code,” Thaker, who has given an application of complaint to cybercrime police, told TOI.Thaker, in his complaint with the cybercrime cell, has urged immediate action against the operators. In his representation, he said that channels were misleading students by falsely claiming that the Re-NEET paper had been leaked and collecting large sums of money from aspirants.ACP Hardik Makadia of the cybercrime branch told TOI: “Some cybercriminals are exploiting students and parents in a bid to defraud them of money. We are aware that some elements have started offering NEET question papers for a price just after exams got cancelled. People are forewarned that these are fraudsters and they should not panic and steer clear of them,” said Makadia.Police officials said that some channels are under scrutiny. One of the channels allegedly claimed to have collected Rs 5.74 crore from nearly 7,900 individuals in connection with the purported Re-NEET paper leak.Cybercrime officials say they have put such channels under scanner to determine whether they are linked to a larger interstate fraud network targeting medical aspirants.
