18-Year-Old NEET Candidate Caught Cheating With Phone Hidden in Flush Tank in Ragannaguda
An 18-year-old student was apprehended on Sunday for allegedly cheating during the NEET re-exam at the Zilla Parishad High School in Ragannaguda, Hyderabad. The candidate, a resident of Achampet, was caught red-handed inside a washroom using a mobile phone that he had hidden inside a flush tank to search for exam answers.
According to the Hyderabad Police, the student arrived at the examination centre around 7:00 AM on Sunday. He initially placed his mobile phone in the washroom ventilator, which was easily accessible because it adjoins the school's compound wall.
At around 11:00 AM, the student entered the washroom again, concealed the phone inside a zip-lock cover, and hid it inside the flush tank.
The security lapse occurred despite multiple inspections by police security teams. Officials had thoroughly searched the school premises twice—once at 6:00 AM and again at 11:00 AM—and conducted strict frisking of all candidates at the entrance. However, the phone hidden inside the flush tank remained undetected during these initial checks.
During the examination, the student complained of stomach pain and requested permission to use the restroom. The washroom, which serves as the only common facility for the entire examination centre, is located far away from the main school building.
After the student spent an unusually long time in the washroom, the invigilator became suspicious and sent school staff members to check on him.
The staff caught the student red-handed inside the washroom actively searching for answers on the mobile phone. Upon being alerted, a police team arrived and seized the device.
A thorough inspection of the mobile phone by the police revealed that the student was using Google to search for answers. No other active applications of concern were found on the device besides Instagram.
The student confessed to the act during police interrogation and is currently in custody. Following a complaint filed by the school administration, the police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
