The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged that serious internal lapses within the National Testing Agency (NTA), combined with a network of coaching operators and middlemen, enabled the confidential NEET UG 2026 question paper to spread across multiple states before the medical entrance examination held on May 3, 2026.
In findings emerging from its investigation, the agency has chargesheeted 13 accused, including three NTA subject experts, alleging they memorised examination questions during the paper-setting process, recreated them from memory, and shared them through private coaching sessions before the material was allegedly reconstructed and circulated nationwide via messaging platforms.
The CBI alleged that three NTA subject experts responsible for preparing the NEET UG 2026 question paper were also assigned to translate it into Marathi, giving them repeated access to the examination content.
The accused have been identified as P.V. Kulkarni (Chemistry), Manisha Gurunath Mandhare (Physics), and Manisha Sanjay Havaldar (Biology).
According to the investigation, the three experts were housed in a sanitised environment during the confidential paper-setting process as required under NTA protocols. However, investigators alleged they were permitted to leave the secure facility, return home, conduct tuition classes, and resume work the following day.
The CBI believes this arrangement gave them sufficient opportunity to memorise examination questions and later recreate them from memory. Investigators have reportedly informed the NTA that this represented a serious procedural failure rather than a conventional paper leak, distinguishing it from the NEET-UG 2024 case, where officials alleged that examination papers were physically stolen and circulated.
The agency is expected to include these findings in its formal recommendations to the NTA.
According to the first CBI chargesheet, the original NEET UG 2026 question paper was never circulated digitally outside the restricted paper-setting network.
Instead, investigators alleged that the three subject experts dictated examination questions during private coaching sessions attended by selected students. Students were reportedly instructed to write the questions by hand instead of using electronic devices, reducing the chances of creating digital evidence.
The CBI stated that it recovered handwritten notes containing these questions during the investigation.
According to reports citing sources familiar with the probe, the accused allegedly told students that the questions were "very important" for the examination without revealing that they were the actual NEET question paper.
Investigators alleged that the accused sought financial gains while simultaneously improving the reputation of their coaching network by helping students perform better in the examination.
The CBI alleged that the examination questions expanded beyond the initial coaching groups after Manisha Waghmare, identified as a key accused and a local beautician, reconstructed the entire paper.
According to investigators, Waghmare allegedly contacted two students who had attended the coaching sessions and asked them to type the handwritten questions at her shop. The reconstructed paper was then allegedly sold in Pune for ₹10 lakh before moving to Nashik, where it was reportedly sold again for ₹10–15 lakh.
Investigators alleged that the reconstructed paper subsequently travelled through multiple intermediaries across Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Kerala using messaging applications, including WhatsApp and Telegram.
The CBI described the operation as a "countrywide conspiracy" and alleged that co-accused Dhananjay Lokhande played a significant role in expanding the distribution network.
According to investigators, another distribution route involved the reconstructed paper passing from Lokhande to Nashik-based intermediary Khairnar before reaching Rajasthan through Telegram.
The CBI alleged that P.V. Kulkarni earned at least ₹21 lakh through the illegal sharing of examination questions.
Investigators further alleged that reconstructed question papers were sold through multiple intermediaries for amounts ranging between ₹50,000 and ₹10 lakh.
The agency also traced an alleged payment of ₹5 lakh linked to the wife of a Latur-based coaching institute operator. According to the investigation, the amount was later recovered from the residence of a member of the Shirure family.
The CBI stated that it has frozen several bank accounts, bank lockers, and one demat account while investigating the financial transactions connected with the alleged racket.
According to the CBI chargesheet, the first formal alert about the alleged NEET UG 2026 paper leak came from a chemistry teacher in Sikar, Rajasthan, rather than from law enforcement agencies.
The agency stated that the teacher emailed the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 7, reporting that his landlord had shown him two PDF files containing solved NEET question papers shortly after the examination concluded on May 3.
According to the CBI, the teacher compared the PDFs with the actual examination paper, found that the questions matched, and asked colleagues to independently verify the similarity before notifying the NTA.
The chargesheet further states that the landlord told the teacher he had received the files via WhatsApp from his son, a first-year MBBS student studying in Kerala.
According to the CBI investigation, the student's account allegedly traced the circulation chain further, claiming that he had received the files on May 2 from another student with whom he shared accommodation. The chargesheet also alleges that an individual initially demanded ₹40,000 for access to the question paper before agreeing to ₹30,000, which was reportedly paid through PhonePe.
The CBI further stated that the teacher's email alleged approximately 450 solved questions and answers had been circulated around 11 p.m. on May 2, several hours before the NEET UG 2026 examination. According to investigators, this information formed part of the evidence suggesting that confidential examination material may have reached some students before the test began.
The CBI has so far chargesheeted 13 accused in the case and stated that several middlemen involved in sourcing and distributing the alleged leaked questions have also been identified and arrested.
(Rh/ARC/MSM)