PMCH has suspended an MBBS student's admission over allegations that he impersonated another candidate during the NEET UG 2026 re-examination.
PMCH said the admission will be permanently revoked if the allegations are confirmed during the investigation.
The Special EOU Court granted investigators a 72-hour remand to question the accused about the alleged cheating network.
Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) has suspended the admission of a fourth-year MBBS student accused of impersonating another candidate during the NEET UG 2026 re-examination held on June 21. The action follows an FIR registered at Kiul Police Station in Bihar's Lakhisarai district. The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) is investigating the alleged examination fraud network linked to the case.
PMCH has also cancelled the student's hostel allotment. The college said the suspension is temporary and that the admission will be permanently cancelled if the allegations are confirmed during the investigation.
Investigators alleged that the fourth-year MBBS student entered the examination centre by posing as a biometric staff member before writing the NEET UG 2026 re-examination on behalf of another candidate. The re-examination was held on June 21 after the original May 3 NEET UG 2026 examination was cancelled over the paper leak case.
PMCH Principal Prof. Dr. Geeta Sinha told Live Hindustan that the college matched photographs published in newspapers with the admission register, mobile phone records, and other official documents before identifying the accused student. She added that the student was absent from a special class on June 22, further strengthening the college's suspicion.
Dr. Sinha also confirmed that disciplinary proceedings involving two other students are being initiated. She said, "The process of taking action against two other students is also underway. Detailed information has been sought from Kiul Police Station."
The PMCH case forms part of a wider NEET UG 2026 impersonation investigation being conducted by Bihar's Economic Offences Unit (EOU). Police have arrested 30 people, including nine alleged solver candidates, MBBS students, biometric staff members, supervisors, and other suspected accomplices linked to the examination fraud.
Investigators alleged that some of the accused used forged Aadhaar cards during identity verification, enabling solver candidates to appear for the examination in place of genuine aspirants. The arrests were made in Lakhisarai district, where police suspected an organized network involving biometric operators, middlemen, and candidates.
The Special EOU Court granted investigators a 72-hour remand to question the accused about the alleged cheating network, biometric fraud, the money trail, and possible links to the earlier paper leak. Confirming the development, EOU Additional Director General Amit Kumar Jain told The Times of India, "The accused have been taken on a 72-hour remand after seeking permission of the Special EOU Court. The deputy inspector general (DIG) of EOU, Manavjit Singh Dhillon, will lead the interrogation."
Also see: NEET PG 2026 Registration Begins; Exam on August 30, NBEMS Issues Key Advisory for Applicants
NEET UG is India's national entrance examination for undergraduate medical and dental admissions. Because admission depends on a candidate's verified identity and examination performance, cases of impersonation or identity fraud can undermine the fairness and credibility of the selection process.
The ongoing investigation has renewed scrutiny of identity verification procedures at examination centres, particularly the use of biometric verification and document checks to prevent organized cheating and the use of dummy candidates.
The PMCH case underscores the wider impact of the NEET UG 2026 impersonation probe as educational institutions and the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) continue disciplinary and legal action while investigating the alleged network behind the examination fraud.
(Rh/TP/MSM)