A NEET candidate was arrested in Varanasi on Sunday after security personnel discovered a SIM card and old question papers concealed in his undergarments at the Harishchandra Post Graduate College in the Maidagin area, a designated exam centre. The incident occurred before the commencement of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate medical admissions.
Details of the Incident
According to officials, the candidate, identified as a 20-year-old male, was subjected to a routine frisking by the exam centre’s security team. During the check, the security staff found a SIM card and several sheets of old question papers hidden inside his undergarments. The candidate was immediately detained and handed over to the local police.
The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Uttar Pradesh Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 1998. The candidate is being questioned to determine if he was part of a larger cheating racket.
Official Statements
“The candidate was caught with a SIM card and old question papers during the frisking process. He has been arrested and is being interrogated to uncover any links to organised cheating networks,” said a senior police officer in Varanasi, speaking on condition of anonymity. The officer added that the SIM card would be analysed to check for any communication with external parties during the exam.
The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the NEET, has been informed of the incident. A spokesperson for the NTA stated, “We have zero tolerance for any form of malpractice. The matter will be investigated thoroughly, and strict action will be taken as per rules.”
Impact on the Exam
The incident caused a brief delay at the centre, but the exam proceeded as scheduled for other candidates. Authorities have increased security measures at all exam centres in the district. This arrest comes amid heightened vigilance against cheating in competitive exams across India.
In recent years, several cases of unfair means have been reported during NEET and other entrance exams, prompting the government to introduce stricter laws and surveillance mechanisms. The Uttar Pradesh government has also set up special task forces to monitor exam centres during high-stakes tests.
The accused has been remanded to judicial custody and will appear in court on Monday. Further investigation is ongoing.
