Answers in Gujarati but candidates from Bihar, UP: Probe into Godhra NEET case

Several NEET-UG candidates from states like Odisha, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, who gave their exam at a centre in Gujarat's Godhra, were asked by the accused to choose Gujarati as the language of the examination.

This was done to enable Gujarati individuals who were part of the exam process to fill out their answer sheets, the CBI told a Gujarat court while seeking custody of the accused.

These candidates were also allegedly told to show their permanent address as Panchmahal or Vadodara, the CBI's probe into alleged malpractices at two exam centres revealed.

The CBI said the control of both the examination centres was with the same operators. All these candidates from different states were contacted by the accused through different links.

The CBI has taken five of the six accused in its custody, including Dixit Patel, owner of Jai Jalaram School in Godhra that was one of the designated centres for the NEET-UG examination held on May 5.

Patel, who was arrested on June 30 from his residence, is alleged to have demanded Rs 10 lakh from each student for clearing the NEET-UG exam.

The CBI, which took over the probe into the case from Gujarat police last month, is now focusing on unearthing "interstate links" as part of a larger conspiracy.

The CBI, which is probing the alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam, has registered six FIRs and arrested 11 people so far.

The FIR registered in Bihar pertains to paper leaks while the remaining from Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra are linked to the impersonation of candidates and cheating.