A senior official of the NTA said the candidate had himself changed the test centre preferences through the online portal, selecting Abu Dhabi as the first choice and Dubai as the second. The controversy has erupted just one day ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-exam.

The protest at Jantar Mantar started around 2:00 pm after Abhijeet Dipke arrived, attracting students from Delhi and nearby states. Artists, singers, writers, students, parents, and teachers are expected to take part in the agitation.

The local administration has launched immediate rescue efforts to find those believed to be buried underneath the debris. Top officials of the district administration and the local police were present at the spot to oversee the rescue operation.