Bihar Police Arrest Four for Selling Fake NEET Question Papers via Social Media

Bihar Police have arrested four individuals in Muzaffarpur for allegedly selling fake NEET question papers to aspiring medical students through social media platforms, including Telegram and Instagram. The accused, identified as Harsh, Aman Kumar, Kanhaiya Kumar, and Harsh Kanodia, reportedly collected payments via online transfers routed to an associate named Manish Jha. The operation targeted NEET aspirants in Bihar and neighbouring states by promising advance access to the examination paper, preying on the desperation of students preparing for one of India's most competitive entrance tests. This case highlights how digital platforms are being misused to facilitate examination fraud, a problem that has drawn legislative attention through the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

How the Fraud Operated

According to the police investigation, the accused created Telegram channels and social media accounts posing as coaching institute insiders who claimed to have access to leaked NEET papers. They targeted students by circulating messages in NEET preparation groups, promising "100% genuine" question papers days before the examination. Interested students were directed to contact the accused privately and make payments ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 via UPI transfers and bank accounts linked to Manish Jha, who is reportedly still at large.

The papers sent to students after payment were entirely fabricated. Students who paid were either sent old question papers repackaged as the current year's paper or randomly generated questions designed to look authentic. Several victims who appeared for NEET 2025 and found no correlation between the "leaked" paper and the actual examination filed complaints with the police, triggering the investigation. For more on how courts are dealing with digital fraud, see our analysis of SIM swap fraud and telecom operator liability.

Criminal Charges: BNS and Public Examinations Act

The accused face charges under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Section 318 (cheating) applies because the accused dishonestly induced students to deliver money by falsely representing that they possessed leaked examination papers. Section 319 (cheating by personation) is potentially applicable where the accused impersonated coaching institute officials or examination board insiders. Section 61 (criminal conspiracy) covers the coordinated nature of the operation across multiple individuals and platforms.

Significantly, the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which came into force in June 2024, creates specific offences for activities related to examination fraud. Section 3 of the Act defines "unfair means" broadly to include leaking question papers, providing unauthorised assistance, and tampering with examination materials. Section 9 prescribes imprisonment of three to five years along with a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh for individuals found guilty of using unfair means in public examinations. While the accused in this case sold fabricated (not actual leaked) papers, the prosecution may argue that the Act's wide definition of unfair means extends to fraudulent schemes that undermine public confidence in the examination system.

The Role of Digital Platforms in Examination Fraud

Telegram, in particular, has emerged as a preferred platform for examination fraud networks due to its encrypted messaging and channel features that allow one-to-many broadcasting with limited traceability. Indian law enforcement agencies have flagged Telegram channels as a major vector for both genuine paper leaks (as seen in past NEET and UGC-NET controversies) and fake paper scams targeting vulnerable students. Under the Information Technology Act, 2000, intermediaries like Telegram are required to comply with government orders to remove unlawful content, and the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, mandate a 72-hour compliance window for government takedown orders. For a detailed understanding of how to approach digital grievances, see our guide on filing a cyber crime complaint online in India.

Students who have been victims of similar scams can file complaints through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in), which allows online FIR registration for financial frauds. Additionally, complaints can be filed with the local police station or through the NEET conducting body (NTA) if the fraud relates to an ongoing examination cycle. For related guidance on navigating the criminal justice process, read about how to quash an FIR under Section 528 BNSS.

Related Reading

For more on criminal law developments, see Delhi Hotel Fire: Criminal Charges Under BNS 2023 and Industrial Safety Laws.

For how courts view bail conditions in criminal cases, see Supreme Court Strikes Down Degrading Bail Conditions.

Key Takeaways

First, selling fake examination papers is a criminal offence attracting charges under BNS Sections 318 (cheating) and 61 (criminal conspiracy), with potential imprisonment of up to seven years for cheating. Second, the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 adds a specialised layer of prosecution for examination-related fraud, with penalties of three to five years imprisonment and fines up to Rs 10 lakh. Third, students should exercise extreme caution when approached through social media or messaging platforms with offers of leaked papers; no legitimate source distributes examination papers in advance, and paying for such offers is both legally risky and financially wasteful. Fourth, victims of examination fraud should promptly report the matter through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) and to their local police station to aid in recovery of funds and prosecution of offenders.