Udupi: Student caught using fake NEET scorecard; massive fraud uncovered

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, June 19, 2025: A shocking case of academic fraud has emerged in Udupi district involving the circulation of a fake NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) scorecard. The scam came to light shortly after the NEET 2025 results were announced, in which several students from Karnataka ranked among the top 200 nationwide.

One student from Udupi claimed to have secured the first rank in the district and eighth in the state, drawing widespread attention and praise. However, classmates grew suspicious of the claim and proceeded to verify his credentials. The verification revealed a startling truth: the scorecard was forged.

The student had falsely claimed to have scored 646 marks with an All-India Rank (AIR) of 107, but his actual score was only 65, with a real AIR of 17,62,258. Investigations suggest the student, along with his parents, may have collaborated with a college to promote the fabricated result for publicity purposes.

A detailed analysis exposed several glaring inconsistencies in the fake scorecard:

* Font styles differed from official documents.

* The year of examination was incorrect.

* The signature was attributed to a non-existent "Senior Director" instead of the official NTA authority.

* The one-page format of the fake mark sheet, unlike the official two-page layout.

* Incorrect cut-off marks, wrong number of candidates, and a mismatched passport photo.

* The Government of India logo was altered to show "Ministry of Education" instead of the legitimate "Department of Higher Education".

* The claimed AIR 107 actually belongs to a girl from New Delhi.

* The release date—present on all official NEET scorecards—was missing.

* Social media posts congratulating the student included the name of a fake coaching institute.

The incident has sparked outrage among the public and authorities. As NEET assigns a unique rank to every candidate and has no rank-sharing system, using a forged scorecard is a serious offense. It not only amounts to fraud but is also a clear attempt to mislead educational institutions and gain illegitimate admission advantages.

There are growing calls for a comprehensive investigation involving the district administration, police, state government, and the NTA. The public is demanding strict legal action against all those involved and calling for mechanisms to safeguard deserving students from such deceptive practices.

This incident has also raised concerns about the possibility of a wider racket involving fake scorecards and academic fraud. Given the critical nature of medical education, the public insists that such malpractices be thoroughly investigated and eradicated.