NEET re-examination on Sunday; 19-year-old arrested for selling fake question papers via Telegram

NEW DELHI: A 19-year-old student has been arrested in Jaipur for allegedly selling fake NEET UG question papers through Telegram using foreign servers, despite the app being banned in the country ahead of Sunday’s re-examination. The accused has been identified as Akash Chaudhary, a student from Bhilwara, Rajasthan.

The fake papers were sold through a Telegram channel named 'Paper Mafia'. He charged Rs 4000 for one question paper. Since Indian servers were not available after the ban, he used a VPN to access foreign servers and carry out the fraud. The 'Paper Mafia' channel started by him had 52 members. Police have seized his mobile phone and other gadgets.

Meanwhile, National Testing Agency (NTA) Director Abhishek Singh asked students not to believe rumours about question paper leaks. He said strict security arrangements have been made for the exam. The NTA has started sending details about the re-examination to students through WhatsApp. Students should trust only messages from the verified WhatsApp number 7827980287, the agency said. Students have been asked not to bring the admit card used for the May 3 exam to the examination centres. They must download and print the new admit card available on the website.

Delhi High Court upholds Telegram ban
The Delhi High Court has upheld the Centre’s decision to temporarily ban the Telegram app in the country. Justice Tejas Karia refused to interfere with the petition filed by Telegram. The court said the ban was justified considering the emergency situation and the editing features available on the app. The court said the government's action was legal and the reasons behind the decision were sufficient. Telegram had argued that the action was taken unilaterally, but the court did not accept the claim. The Supreme Court also refused to hear the petitions related to NEET on an urgent basis.

Security increased in Bengaluru
Police have imposed prohibitory orders near NEET re-examination centres in Bengaluru. Cities such as Pune, Kota, and Jaipur, where question paper leak allegations were reported earlier, are under strict surveillance. In Madhya Pradesh, 44 cyber commandos have been deployed as part of the security measures.