NEET Candidate Delay: Bengaluru Police Say CCTV Shows No Traffic Disruption, Late Departure Led to Delay

The Bengaluru Traffic Police has issued a detailed clarification based on CCTV footage and route analysis regarding the delay of a NEET candidate 3 who failed to reach the examination centre on time on June 21, 2026.

According to the police statement, the assessment was carried out using CCTV footage, interaction with the candidate and parents, and a detailed route analysis of the journey from R.T. Nagar to the examination centre.

What does the timeline show?

BTP reconstructed the sequence of events using surveillance data:

The candidate left home in R.T. Nagar at 12:57 pm
The prescribed entry cut-off time for the exam was 1:30 pm
The candidate reached the examination centre area at 1:33 pm, after the cut-off time

This resulted in a late arrival of around three minutes beyond the entry deadline.

What did the investigation find?

1. Late departure from home

CCTV footage confirmed that the candidate left the residence only 33 minutes before the exam cut-off time, leaving limited buffer for travel.

2. Route selection

The analysis showed that the candidate took a longer route, even though a shorter and faster alternative route was available.

3. Traffic conditions were normal

Police stated that traffic conditions on the day were generally normal, with no significant congestion reported due to public events or disruptions.

4. Police assistance on route

Traffic police personnel deployed along the route were seen assisting and facilitating smooth movement wherever required.

What is the conclusion?

Based on CCTV evidence, route mapping, and interaction with the candidate and parents, Bengaluru Traffic Police concluded that:

The delay was not caused by traffic congestion
The late arrival was primarily due to late departure from home
Route selection also contributed to the delay

The police further clarified that there was no evidence linking the delay to any public event-related traffic disruption.

In its statement, BTP said that all findings were based on evidence-based verification, including CCTV footage and field assessment, and reaffirmed its commitment to transparent and factual reporting.

"The delay was primarily attributable to late departure and selection of a longer route. Traffic conditions were normal," the statement noted.

About 22 lakh students across the country appeared for the NEET-UG re-test on Tuesday, held more than a month after the original examination was scrapped following allegations of a paper leak.

The exam began at 2 pm, with candidates instructed to report at least 30 minutes in advance. However, as the deadline approached, several parts of the city witnessed chaotic traffic conditions, with parents on two-wheelers attempting to weave through long queues of vehicles, while some even rode on footpaths in a desperate bid to reach examination centres on time.

Despite the rush, at least three students who reached late were denied entry after the gates were closed. In a heartbreaking scene, they were reportedly unable to sit for the re-test, with their final attempt at securing a medical seat coming to an abrupt end.

Some agitated parents blamed a Congress rally for the traffic congestion, alleging that the event caused major delays on key routes. In emotional outbursts, they also named senior political leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, as students were seen breaking down outside exam centres, distraught over missing what they called a crucial opportunity.