CBI Cracks NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak: Chargesheet Alleges NTA Experts Sold Questions in Multi-State Exam Racket
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has painted the clearest picture yet of how the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak allegedly unfolded, describing it as a well-organised criminal conspiracy stretching across multiple states and involving NTA subject experts, coaching operators, middlemen and candidates.
In a chargesheet filed before the Special CBI Court at Delhi's Rouse Avenue, the agency has named 13 accused, including three National Testing Agency (NTA) subject experts, alleging that they abused their official positions to illegally access confidential examination papers and leak them before the medical entrance examination.
According to the CBI, the leaked papers travelled through a carefully structured network before reaching candidates in exchange for huge sums of money.
The agency has charged the accused under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Prevention of Corruption Act, and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
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The investigation alleges that Botany expert Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, Chemistry expert Prahlad Vithalrao Kulkarni and Physics expert Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, all appointed by the NTA, illegally accessed confidential NEET-UG 2026 question papers and passed them on before the examination.
The CBI claims the papers then moved through a chain of brokers and coaching operators before reaching aspirants.
According to the chargesheet, forensic examination of seized mobile phones, pen drives and other electronic devices uncovered PDFs and image files containing leaked NEET questions, allegedly shared through Telegram, WhatsApp and other messaging platforms several days before the exam.
Investigators say the digital trail enabled them to reconstruct how the papers moved from one accused to another.
The agency alleges that Yash Yadav received the leaked questions from Nashik-based accused Shubham Khairnar, who in turn procured them from Dhananjay Lokhande in a deal allegedly worth ₹25 lakh.
The trail, according to the CBI, eventually led to Manisha Sanjay Waghmare, who allegedly coordinated the physical circulation of the leaked papers. During searches at her residence, investigators claim to have recovered a mobile phone containing a WhatsApp group titled "NEET 2026."
The chargesheet further alleges that Waghmare was in contact with NTA Chemistry expert Prahlad Kulkarni, who had worked on translating the Chemistry paper from Marathi to English, and that she obtained leaked Biology and Chemistry questions through students introduced to the NTA experts.
The CBI has also cited statements from candidates during the investigation.
According to the agency, one candidate and her father were allegedly offered access to the leaked NEET-UG 2026 paper for ₹4 lakh, along with coaching support and offline revision classes conducted by one of the NTA subject experts.
The agency maintains that forensic evidence, electronic records, chat histories, seized documents and witness statements collectively establish an organised conspiracy involving abuse of official position and the illegal circulation of confidential examination material before NEET-UG 2026.
(With inputs from ANI)