Mumbai court extends CBI custody of Sandeep Shah and Salim Patel in NEET-UG score manipulation case. CBI cites need to uncover “larger conspiracy” involving NTA officials and parents.
Mumbai: Today, on June 13, in a significant development in the NEET-UG 2025 exam score manipulation case, a Mumbai court extended the CBI custody of two accused individuals — Sandeep Shah and Salim Patel — until June 16.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told the court that the accused were part of a “larger conspiracy” and further custody was needed to probe deeper into the scam.
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The two were arrested on June 10 by the CBI and produced before the court after the expiry of their initial remand.
The agency informed the court that both Sandeep Shah and Salim Patel had demanded and accepted bribes to influence officials of the National Testing Agency (NTA), which is responsible for conducting the NEET-UG exam.
According to the CBI, Shah worked in coordination with other accused persons and was approaching the parents of NEET-UG 2025 candidates.
He allegedly promised to manipulate their children’s marks in exchange for large sums of money.
The court was told by the investigating agency that:
“Shah, in conspiracy with other accused, was contacting parents of NEET UG 2025 candidates with the promise of manipulating their marks for money.”
Seeking further custody, the CBI submitted that it was essential to “unearth the larger conspiracy” and identify others who may have been involved in the exam manipulation racket.
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The CBI suspects that the accused were part of an organised network that tampered with the integrity of the examination process.
The investigation is also focusing on possible links to NTA officials and middlemen who might have facilitated the scam.
This case has sparked outrage across the country, especially among students and parents, as NEET-UG is a highly competitive national-level examination for admission to undergraduate medical courses in India.
The manipulation of scores raises serious questions about the fairness and transparency of the examination system.
The court granted the CBI’s request and extended the custody of both accused till June 16, allowing the agency more time to interrogate the accused and gather crucial evidence in the ongoing probe.
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