NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak Row: CBI Registers FIR, Carries Out Multi-City Raids | Key Updates

The Central Bureau of Investigation has launched a probe into the alleged National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026 paper leak and related irregularities by registering an FIR based on a complaint filed by the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education. Multiple CBI teams have been deployed across different locations to conduct raids and gather evidence in connection with the case.

The FIR has been filed under multiple provisions, including criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, theft, and destruction of evidence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

The complaint alleges that certain documents linked to the question papers were circulated unauthorisedly ahead of the examination, sparking serious concerns over a possible breach in the exam process.

Following the registration of the FIR, the CBI formed special investigation teams and deployed them to multiple locations across the country to collect evidence and identify those involved. “The agency is expected to examine the role of officials, intermediaries, and any organized networks that may have facilitated the alleged leak,” the official said.

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NEET UG 2026 Paper Leak: Key Developments So Far

- The NEET (UG) 2026 exam held on May 3 was cancelled on Tuesday amid allegations of paper leak with the CBI registering an FIR after the government asked it to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the "irregularities".

- The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the exam for admission to undergraduate courses in medical colleges, said fresh dates will be notified in the "next seven to 10 days".

- The cancellation triggered nationwide outrage among medical aspirants, with students raising questions on NTA's competence and demanding that the exam be conducted by AIIMS-Delhi.

- Several arrests have been made in connection with the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak from Nashik (Maharashtra), Dehradun (Uttarakhand), and Rajgir (Bihar).

- Investigators have uncovered an organised interstate network involving at least 45 people across Maharashtra, Kerala, Haryana, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand.

- The racket allegedly included paper solvers, impersonators, coaching centre counsellors, and MBBS students.

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- According to Jagran.com, Shubham Khairnar from Nashik was arrested for allegedly obtaining a hard copy of the guess paper before the exam and sharing a soft copy with a contact in Haryana.

- The Rajasthan Police Special Operations Group claimed the paper was leaked from a printing press in Nashik and later circulated in Haryana and Rajasthan.

- On May 3, Rajgir Police in Bihar intercepted two suspicious vehicles during a checking drive after receiving prior intelligence inputs.

- On May 7, the Rajasthan Police Special Operations Group arrested five people from Dehradun, including alleged mastermind Rakesh Kumar, a career counsellor from Sikar, Rajasthan.

- Investigators found that Rakesh Kumar had received a bank of 410 questions from a candidate in Kerala, with 150 questions allegedly matching the actual NEET-UG 2026 exam paper.

- Reports suggest the leaked paper was initially sold for Rs 5 lakh, but the amount later dropped to Rs 30,000 per student as the exam approached.

- According to the SOG, a coaching centre counsellor in Sikar bought the “guess paper” for Rs 5 lakh and distributed it to students through WhatsApp.

- Investigators found that 120 out of the 150 questions in the handwritten guess paper matched the biology and chemistry sections of the original NEET paper.

- Officials said the network operated in a highly organised manner, with different individuals allegedly handling paper leaks, impersonation, solving questions, and reaching students through coaching centres.

- So far, 13 suspects from Dehradun, Sikar, and Jhunjhunu have been questioned.

- Amid the controversy, the National Testing Agency cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination, affecting over 2.2 million students nationwide.

- The central government has handed over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation.