Ananya Lohia , Mumbai - Singer-composer Vishal Dadlani has finally reacted to rumours claiming he was removed from Indian Idol 16 over his comments on the NEET-UG paper leak controversy. Amid growing speculation online, Vishal dismissed the claims and clarified that the viral reports were false.

The rumours began after Vishal shared a strongly worded video on social media criticising the handling of the NEET-UG paper leak case. In the video, he expressed support for students affected by the controversy and questioned the lack of accountability from authorities. Soon after his remarks went viral, several social media pages claimed that the makers of Indian Idol had dropped him from the reality show because of his political opinions. Reacting to the speculation, Vishal took to Instagram and mocked the rumours through a humorous video from the sets of Indian Idol. In the clip, he was seen pretending to cry before suddenly laughing and saying, “Here I am, baby!”, Along with the video, Vishal wrote, “Remember not to trust anything you see online. There's a whole lot of manipulation going on. Keep fighting the good fight, and saying what needs to be said!”

The singer’s post received mixed reactions online, with many fans supporting him and praising his outspoken nature. Earlier, Vishal had urged people to elect “good, educated people” and avoid voting based on caste or religion, saying the future of the country depends on better leadership. The NEET-UG paper leak controversy erupted after leaked PDFs allegedly matched several exam questions, triggering a nationwide investigation. Following the backlash, the May 3 examination was cancelled and a re-exam has now been scheduled for June 21 under tighter security measures by the Union Education Ministry.