Ahmedabad : The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has arrested two Rajasthan-based men for allegedly running a cyber fraud racket that targeted students and parents by falsely claiming to provide RE-NEET examination question papers through Telegram channels.
According to police, the accused used social media and messaging platforms to spread misleading claims about access to examination papers and confidential exam-related information, collecting money from aspirants under false pretences.
The Cyber Crime Branch said the accused created and managed multiple Telegram channels and IDs that advertised purported access to the RE-NEET question paper. Students preparing for the examination and their parents were allegedly lured with promises of obtaining question papers, admissions assistance and other examination-related benefits.
Police said payments were collected through online transactions, QR codes and bank accounts after victims were convinced that the accused possessed confidential examination material.
Investigators also found that the accused allegedly used third-party services to artificially inflate the number of members in their Telegram channels, creating an appearance of credibility and popularity.
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
- Two arrested by Ahmedabad Police (images shared by Ahmedabad Police)Two arrested by Ahmedabad Police (images shared by Ahmedabad Police)
- Sumer Singh Meena, a resident of Jaipur, Rajasthan
- Akash Meena, a resident of Kota, Rajasthan
- The arrests were made following an investigation involving analysis of Telegram channels, mobile numbers, IP addresses and other digital evidence.
No Re-NEET Paper Found During Investigation
A key finding of the investigation is that police did not recover any NEET or RE-NEET examination material from the accused.
According to the Cyber Crime Branch, the investigation indicates that the operation functioned primarily as a financial fraud scheme rather than an actual examination paper leak network.
Police stated that the accused allegedly exploited examination-related anxiety among students and parents to obtain money through false claims.
Wider Network of Financial Fraud Uncovered
During the probe, investigators reportedly found links to other cyber fraud activities conducted through Telegram groups associated with investment and trading schemes.
Police said the accused used multiple bank accounts, including accounts linked to gaming platforms, to route funds and obscure the source of transactions. The money was then allegedly transferred through several intermediary accounts before being withdrawn for personal use.
The investigation has so far revealed:
- Approximately ₹1.5 crore in transactions through accounts linked to the accused
- 12 complaints from different states connected to six bank accounts under scrutiny
- Nearly 1,000 mobile numbers and Telegram contacts approached over the last month
- Around 44 websites allegedly used for gaming, betting, gambling and cyber fraud activities
