Breaking:While NEET Paper Leak Sparks Nationwide Protests, Another Admission Fraud Case Re ...

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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.

Case Details

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.

Preliminary Enquiry Report

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. 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.

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

The Enquiry Officer recommends:

• Students who have cleared all examinations should be allowed to take an exit/competency examination, and if they qualify, their admissions may be regularised.
• Students who have not cleared the course should receive a full refund of fees with interest, to be recovered from the college.

The report further notes that FIR No. 005 dated 06.01.2026 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.

All the petitioners have cleared all the examinations and were ready to give the exit/competency examination as suggested by the Enquiry Officer. However, instead of taking these examinations, another high-powered committee was formed and a speaking order (Annexure P-12) was passed based on assumptions, conjectures, and surmises unsupported by any cogent or admissible evidence.