Patna: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the NEET-UG 2026 deployment of ‘solvers’ and imposters in re-exam reached Bhagwan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences, Nalanda, on Tuesday as part of its investigation. The medical college has once again come under scrutiny, with police planning to seek the remand of Ravi Shankar alias Samrat, a 2022-batch MBBS student of the institute, who is alleged to be the mastermind of the racket.The NEET-UG 2026 examination was cancelled on May 3 following a paper leak. Three persons — Avdhesh Kumar, Pankaj Kumar and Aman Kumar — were arrested from Nalanda on May 12 in connection with the case. During the investigation, Ujjwal alias Raja Babu, a second-year MBBS student of Nalanda medical college, was also named. The CBI conducted raids at several locations to arrest him, but he could not be traced.Now, in the NEET re-examination conducted on June 21, police sources said another student from the same college, Ravi Shankar alias Ravi alias Samrat, has emerged as the alleged kingpin. The development came after two imposters were caught at examination centres in Lakhisarai.On June 21, Mantosh Kumar was caught appearing in place of candidate Sanjit Kumar of Nalanda at Hasanpur High School examination centre under Kawaiya police station area in Lakhisarai. During interrogation, Mantosh, a fourth-year MBBS student of New Jalpaiguri Government Medical College and a resident of Madhepura, allegedly told police that the operation was being run by Samrat of Nalanda medical college. A deal involving several lakh rupees was allegedly struck to help Sanjit clear the examination.In another case, Vivek Kumar, a fourth-year MBBS student of ANMMCH, Gaya, was arrested for allegedly appearing in place of candidate Prabhat Aman. During questioning, he named Arpit Singh, a fourth-year MBBS student of ANMMCH, who was allegedly waiting outside the examination centre.The NEET re-examination was conducted at four centres in Lakhisarai on June 21. Following intelligence inputs about the presence of dummy candidates, a special team led by the SDO and SDPO carried out raids and intensive checks at KR College, Kendriya Vidyalaya and Hasanpur High School.The operation led to the arrest of 30 persons, including medical students and biometric staff members.According to a senior police official, “The gang’s modus operandi was sophisticated. Dummy candidates were sent inside examination halls in place of actual aspirants with direct collusion from biometric staff posted at the centres. Fake Aadhaar cards and forged documents were allegedly used to conceal identities. Investigations are underway to trace Ravi alias Samrat and other members of the racket.”
