Bengaluru: Bengaluru Traffic Police have rejected claims that a Congress public event caused a NEET candidate to miss her examination, stating that the student reached the centre late because she left home just 33 minutes before the entry cut-off time and chose a longer travel route.
The clarification comes days after a video went viral on social media in which the student’s father alleged that road closures and traffic restrictions linked to a political event prevented his daughter from reaching the examination centre on time.
According to the police, an investigation involving CCTV footage analysis, route verification and discussions with both the candidate and her parent found no evidence that traffic congestion related to the event caused the delay.
Viral video sparks controversy
The issue gained widespread attention after a video circulated online showing the father expressing frustration over his daughter’s inability to enter the examination centre.
In the video, he claimed that traffic restrictions associated with a Congress event had left several students stranded and unable to reach their centres before the prescribed deadline.
The incident triggered debate on social media, with many users questioning whether large public gatherings should be permitted on important examination days.
However, police officials have now presented a different version of events based on their investigation.
Police analyse CCTV footage and travel route
Bengaluru Traffic Police said they conducted a detailed review of the circumstances surrounding the candidate’s journey to the examination centre.
The assessment included CCTV footage, route mapping and verification of traffic conditions along the route taken by the student.
Officials stated that traffic flow remained normal across the area and that traffic personnel were actively facilitating vehicle movement wherever required.
The investigation concluded that the delay was not caused by congestion linked to the political programme.
Timeline released by police
To support their findings, traffic police released a timeline detailing the candidate’s movements on the day of the examination.
According to officials:
- 12:57 PM: Candidate departed from her residence in RT Nagar.
- 1:30 PM: Official cut-off time for entry into the examination centre.
- 1:33 PM: Candidate arrived at the examination centre area.
Based on this timeline, police said the candidate reached the venue three minutes after the cut-off deadline.
Officials emphasised that examination authorities generally do not permit entry once the prescribed reporting time has elapsed.
Late departure cited as key factor
Police stated that one of the primary reasons for the delay was the candidate’s late departure from home.
With only 33 minutes remaining before the entry deadline, officials said the margin for reaching the centre on time was already extremely limited.
Authorities further noted that the route selected by the candidate was longer than alternative options that could have been used to reach the venue.
According to the traffic police, these two factors collectively contributed to the delayed arrival.
No evidence against public event
In their statement, Bengaluru Traffic Police said available evidence does not support the allegation that the Congress event was responsible for the student missing the examination.
Officials maintained that traffic conditions remained manageable throughout the route and that personnel were deployed to ensure smooth movement of vehicles.
The department stated that CCTV analysis and route verification clearly showed that traffic congestion was not the determining factor in the candidate’s late arrival.
The police findings directly contradict claims made in the viral video.
Debate over exam-day traffic management
The incident has nevertheless reignited discussions about traffic management during major public events, especially when important competitive examinations are being conducted.
Parents and students often face anxiety over reaching examination centres on time, particularly in large cities such as Bengaluru where traffic congestion can be unpredictable.
Education experts have frequently advised candidates to leave well in advance and account for possible delays caused by weather, traffic or other unforeseen circumstances.
Many examination authorities also recommend arriving at centres at least an hour before reporting deadlines.
Conclusion
Bengaluru Traffic Police have concluded that the NEET candidate’s late arrival was due to a delayed departure from home and the selection of a longer route rather than traffic disruptions linked to a political event. While the viral video sparked widespread public debate, officials say CCTV footage and route analysis do not support claims that road restrictions caused the student to miss the examination.