A CBI team investigating NEET-UG malpractices recorded statements on Thursday from three candidates who allegedly paid an accused to help them clear the medical entrance exam at a private school near Godhra, Gujarat.

In addition to the candidates and their parents, investigators questioned Dixit Patel, owner of Jay Jalaram School, at the Godhra circuit house, an official said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been in Gujarat for four days probing alleged malpractice during the NEET held on May 5.

Dixit Patel’s school was one of the exam centers.

On Wednesday, the CBI visited two private schools in Kheda and Panchmahal districts as part of their investigation. They first visited Jay Jalaram International School on Sevaliya-Balasinor highway in Kheda district, then Jay Jalaram School in Godhra, Panchmahal district. Both schools, 100 km apart, are owned by Patel.

Godhra Police registered a case on May 8 against three individuals under various IPC provisions, including criminal conspiracy, cheating, and criminal breach of trust, for allegedly charging Rs 10 lakh each to help 27 candidates clear NEET-UG.

On June 23, amid nationwide protests and litigation over paper leak claims, the CBI filed a fresh FIR against unidentified persons under IPC sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating), among others.

The CBI has taken over five new NEET-UG malpractice cases previously investigated by police in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Bihar.

Gujarat police had arrested five individuals, including a school principal and teacher in Godhra.

The racket was discovered after the Panchmahal district collector received a tip-off about exam malpractices. Authorities prevented malpractices at the center (Jay Jalaram School in Godhra) and the exam proceeded without issues, according to the FIR.

Police arrested physics teacher Tushar Bhatt, school principal Parshottam Sharma, Vadodara-based education consultant Parsuram Roy, his aide Vibhor Anand, and alleged middleman Arif Vohra.

The FIR filed at Godhra taluka police station based on a district education officer’s complaint mentioned Rs 7 lakh in cash recovered from Bhatt, who was the deputy center superintendent for NEET at Jay Jalaram School.

Of the 27 students who paid or agreed to pay Roy and others, only three passed the exam, according to sources.

The accused instructed candidates to solve known questions and leave the rest blank, with Bhatt filling in the answers after collecting the papers, as per the FIR.

Over 24 lakh students appeared for NEET UG 2024 across 571 cities. Results were released on June 4.

Also read: Supreme Court issues notice to NTA on NEET-UG OMR sheets