An 18-year-old youth appearing for the NEET UG 2026 exam on Sunday was arrested after he was allegedly caught using a cell phone concealed inside a washroom at an examination centre, the police said. According to police, the incident took place at the Zilla Parishad High School (ZPHS) examination centre in Ragannaguda, which falls under the jurisdiction of Adibatla Police Station.

According to police, the accused, a resident of Achampet, had allegedly devised a cheating plan in advance and concealed the device within the school premises before the exam kicked off. 

Candidate places cell phone inside washroom ventilator

The Hyderabad City Police said the candidate arrived at the examination centre at around 7 am, and allegedly placed a cell phone inside a washroom ventilator located adjacent to the school compound wall. 

Later, at around 11 am, he entered the washroom, wrapped the device in a zip-lock cover and hid it inside the flush tank, intending to retrieve it during the examination. Police said the examination centre had undergone multiple rounds of security checks. A thorough inspection was carried out at around 6 am, followed by another one at 11 am. Additionally, all the candidates were thoroughly frisked before being allowed to enter the centre.

Despite the aforementioned measures, the hidden device went undetected during the initial inspections.

Invigilators grow suspicious after candidate spends long time inside washroom

The candidate’s plan was laid bare during the examination when he complained of stomach pain, seeking permission to visit the washroom. Officials noted that the centre had a single common washroom located some distance away from the main examination building. Invigilators overseeing the exam activities turned suspicious when the candidate spent an unusually long period inside the facility. 

Concerned by the delay, the examination staff went to check on him. During the inspection, the candidate was allegedly caught while using the cell phone to search for answers related to the exam. The cops were informed immediately, who seized the device from the scene.

Device’s forensic exam reveals online searches

When the device was subjected to forensic analysis, it came to light that the candidate had been using Google Chrome during the exam. The cops said the browser had been used to search for answers, while Instagram was found to be the only other application logged into on the handset.

The accused reportedly admitted to the offence during investigation. He has since been taken into custody while the police continue to gather evidence related to the case.

Probe underway

The candidate has been charged with a criminal case on the basis of a complaint filed by the school administration. Authorities are examining whether any additional individuals were involved in facilitating the cheating attempt.