While NEET Paper Leak Sparks Nationwide Protests, Another Admission Fraud Case Reaches High Court
'Admission agents' allegedly forged NEET scores to secure BAMS admissions; students claim they were unaware of the fraud
Babushahi News Network
Chandigarh, July 23, 2026: Even as the alleged NEET paper leak continues to trigger nationwide protests and political debate, another alleged NEET-related fraud has reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Fifteen aspiring medical students have alleged that they were cheated by admission agents who allegedly secured their admission to a BAMS course using forged NEET scores without their knowledge, ultimately leading to the cancellation of their admissions.
Advocate Manjinder Singh Brar, appearing for the petitioners, said that a writ petition has been filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court on behalf of 15 students. According to the petition, the students were approached by two alleged admission agents—Tarsem Kumar and Raj Kumar—who promised them confirmed admission to the BAMS undergraduate programme.
The students were admitted to Shiv Shakti Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital, Bhikhi (Mansa) during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic sessions through Guru Ravidas Ayurved University. They continued their studies up to the third and fourth years before being barred from appearing in their examinations.
Brar said the students later discovered that their NEET scores had allegedly been forged to obtain admission. Claiming they had no knowledge of the alleged forgery, they informed the university authorities. Despite this, their admissions were cancelled. The students have also lodged a complaint with the Punjab Vigilance Bureau. According to the petition, they are now allegedly facing pressure to withdraw the complaint if they wish to complete their studies.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notice in the matter and fixed the case for further hearing in early August.
That it is pertinent to mention here that the respondent No. 1 University
had already enquired this matter by the Hon’ble Justice (Retired) Rajiv
Narain Raina and in the Preliminary Enquiry Report Annexure P-8 all
the petitioners were exonerated.
Brief of the Preliminary Enquiry Report (14.01.2026)
1. The enquiry was initiated on complaints alleging that 17
students were admitted to the BAMS course (Sessions 2020–21 &
2021–22) at Shiv Shakti Ayurvedic College, Bhikhi using forged
or manipulated NEET scorecards.
2. The University compared the NEET scores submitted by the college
with the official National Testing Agency (NTA) records and
found discrepancies in all 17 cases, some minor and others
substantial.
3. The Enquiry Officer concluded that the discrepancies were real and
could not be attributed to clerical mistakes, thereby establishing
that altered NEET scorecards had been used during admissions.
4. The students consistently stated in their affidavits that they had
handed over their original documents and money to Raj Kumar
Mehta and Mohit Mehta, who assured them of admission under the
management quota. The students denied any knowledge of the forged
NEET scores.
5. Raj Kumar Mehta and Mohit Mehta, in turn, blamed Somnath Mehta,
stating that admissions and financial decisions were made under his
directions. The report notes these conflicting versions but leaves
determination of responsibility to the investigating agency.
6. The report records that, under the University Prospectus, the
Principal of the College was responsible for verifying the
authenticity of original documents and NEET scorecards before
confirming admissions. The enquiry therefore holds that the college
administration failed in its statutory duty.
7. Importantly, the Enquiry Officer does not hold the students guilty.
Rather, the report observes that the available material suggests that
the students acted in good faith and were allegedly misled by persons
connected with the college.
8. Considering that many students have already completed several
years of study, the Enquiry Officer recommends:
o Students who have cleared all examinations should be allowed
to take an exit/competency examination, and if they qualify,
their admissions may be regularised.
o Students who have not cleared the course should receive a full
refund of fees with interest, to be recovered from the college.
9. The report further notes that FIR No. 005 dated 06.01.2026
Annexure P-7 has already been registered regarding the fraudulent
admissions and clarifies that fixing criminal liability is outside the
scope of the enquiry. It leaves the identification of the guilty persons
to the police investigation and the competent criminal court.
It is pertinent to mention here that all the petitioners have cleared all the
examinations and as suggested by the Enquiry Officer the petitioners
were ready to give exit/competency examination, however, instead of
taking these examinations another high powered committee was made
and speaking order (Annexure P-12) was passed based on mere
assumptions, conjectures and surmises, unsupported by any cogent,
admissible or illegal sustainable evidence