Mangaluru/Udupi: In a startling case of academic fraud, a NEET aspirant from Udupi district allegedly forged his NEET UG 2025 scorecard to falsely claim an All India Rank (AIR) of 107, despite actually scoring only 65 marks with a rank beyond 17 lakh. The fabricated success story, which quickly went viral on social media, has now triggered a major controversy involving the student’s family and a local coaching institute.
The Fake Topper Claim
The student, enrolled at a private PU college in Udupi and reportedly the son of a senior state government official, circulated a fake NEET scorecard showing 646 marks, positioning himself as Udupi district topper and 8th rank holder in Karnataka. The claims received widespread applause online and even resulted in coverage by a leading regional Kannada daily.
However, suspicions were raised by the student’s classmates who noticed inconsistencies and reported the matter. A deeper probe revealed that the scorecard was forged, raising concerns of a conspiracy involving the student’s parents and the coaching centre he attended.
Glaring Discrepancies in the Scorecard
An analysis of the forged scorecard revealed numerous red flags:
- Incorrect fonts and formatting
- Missing release date, unlike genuine NTA scorecards
- Edited Government of India logo and fake department names
- Fake signature of a “Senior Director” instead of the NTA’s official signatory
- One-page scorecard, whereas real scorecards span two pages
- Misused AIR 107, which actually belongs to Bhavhya Jayna of Delhi (Aakash Digital)
The student’s academic history also showed no correlation with such a high score, adding further doubts about the legitimacy of the claim.
Complaint Filed with NTA and Education Department
Following the expose, the National Pre-University Students, Parents and Teachers Association (NPUSPTA) filed a formal complaint with the Department of Higher Education and the National Testing Agency (NTA).
In the complaint, NPUSPTA Secretary Mithesh Kumar Moodukonaje highlighted that:
- The QR code on the fake scorecard did not link to the NTA website
- The format deviated significantly from official NTA documents
- The case indicated clear digital forgery and violation under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Indian Penal Code, 1860
The Association demanded:
- A thorough investigation by competent authorities
- Criminal and disciplinary proceedings against the perpetrators
- Media accountability, urging news agencies to verify rank claims directly with NTA before publishing
- Public disclosure of verified NEET results (in accordance with privacy laws and RTI Act norms)
Father Shifts Blame to Coaching Institute
When contacted, the student’s father denied family involvement and accused the coaching institute of fabricating and circulating the fake scorecard using the student’s login credentials. He claimed they would soon file a complaint against the institute.
Meanwhile, the coaching centre, whose name appeared in congratulatory posts, is now under scrutiny for its possible role in the fraud.
What Happens Next?
This incident has sparked public outrage and renewed calls for greater transparency and verification in publishing academic results and ranks. It also highlights the intense pressure on NEET aspirants and the unethical practices some are willing to adopt for recognition and advantage.
Authorities are now expected to take swift and stern action to ensure such academic frauds do not recur and that culprits face legal consequences.
