The family of Akanksha Chaturvedi, an 18-year-old NEET aspirant from Nagpur who died by suicide following the paper-leak controversy, has said Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as Education Minister does little to address their loss. Her mother, Neelam Chaturvedi, told reporters that no action taken so far felt adequate, questioning what a resignation actually changes when her daughter is not coming back. She said the family is seeking compensation and genuine justice, and reiterated her demand that those responsible for the paper leak face the harshest possible punishment, while also calling on the Prime Minister and Home Minister to step down.
She added that the family had sold land to fund her daughter's medical entrance exam preparation, underlining the financial sacrifice behind her daughter's pursuit of a medical career — one Neelam said the family cannot simply recover from with an apology or a single official's exit. Akanksha's father, Krishna Kumar Chaturvedi, said his focus remains entirely on his daughter, who had hoped to become a doctor and serve the country.
The family's demands echo those of other bereaved parents caught up in the broader NEET-UG controversy, several of whom have joined public demonstrations pushing for financial support and stronger safeguards against future exam irregularities. While Union Minister JP Nadda has announced that the government has agreed to provide compensation to affected families, several parents maintain that money alone cannot substitute for accountability and structural reform of the examination system.
The case has become one of the emotional focal points of the broader student protest movement, which argues that repeated lapses in competitive exams have taken a serious toll on the mental health of young aspirants across the country.
