'Murder by system': Rahul Gandhi targets Centre over NEET suicides, paper leaks

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday questioned the central government over rising number of deaths by suicide after NEET paperleak scandal. Terming it "murder by system", Rahul cited case from UP where a 21-year-old hanged himself allegedly over the cancellation of the medical test post paper leak.

"No more competitive exams now -- These were the last words of 21-year-old Ritik Mishra from Lakhimpur Kheri. This young lad, appearing for NEET for the third time, broke down the moment the exam was cancelled. In Goa too, a NEET aspirant took his own life," the Congress leader said in a post on X.



"These youngsters didn’t lose to the exams; they were killed by a corrupt system. This isn’t suicide—it’s murder by the system," he added.

Rahul further pointed out the repeated exam-related scandals under the current government and questioned negligible conviction rate after the probe.

"From 2015 to 2026—148 exam scandals. 87 exams cancelled, the futures of 9 crore children affected. Out of 148 scams, only 1 resulted in punishment. The CBI took up 17 cases, the ED 11—nobody was punished. In NEET, AIPMT, and other medical exams alone—15 scandals," he said.

"In these scams, not a single officer or minister responsible resigned. They’re removed—then quietly reinstated in high posts. Those who orchestrate the thefts get rewarded, while the children taking the exams lose their lives," he added, referrng to the appointment of former NTA chief Subodh Kumar Singh into Chhattisgarh government despite paperleak scandal during his tenure.

"Modi ji—how many Ritiks will it take to awaken your sense of accountability? My young friends, your pain is my pain. Your hard work is my hard work. Those who steal your future will have to answer for it. No matter how long it takes, no one will be spared—this is my promise. We will fight this battle together—and we will win," he said.

Ritik Mishra, who was preparing for the exam for the third time, was found hanging in a locked room at his family’s residence in Gangotrinagar locality on Thursday. While no suicide note was recovered, his parents and close relatives said he had been deeply distressed after the NEET examination was scrapped amid allegations of a question paper leak, PTI reported.

His father, Anoop Mishra, said Ritik had been highly confident of clearing the exam this year and was emotionally shaken by the cancellation. “Ritik was under immense mental stress after the NEET exams were cancelled following reports of a paper leak,” he told reporters.

NTA announced that the re-examination for NEET (UG) 2026 will be conducted on Sunday, June 21. The Centre has also ordered a detailed investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged malpractice associated with the examination.

Announcing the cancellation earlier, the NTA had said the move was taken “in the interest of students” and to maintain public confidence in the integrity of the national examination system.