CBI tells Delhi court NEET-UG 2026 paper leak originated from ‘NTA source’

The Central Bureau of Investigation told a Delhi court on Thursday that the NEET-UG 2026 question paper leak originated from a source within the National Testing Agency, with investigators now attempting to identify NTA officials and other government functionaries allegedly linked to the breach.

A court order passed by special CBI judge Ajay Kumar Gupta recorded the agency’s claim that accused Shubham Khairnar received the leaked paper from a Pune-based individual who had obtained it through an “NTA source”.

The alleged leak led to the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 on May 12, nine days after nearly 2.27 million candidates took the examination across 551 cities, after central agencies confirmed the paper had been compromised.

According to the CBI’s remand plea, a PDF containing 500-600 questions was circulating on Telegram as early as April 29 — four days before the exam. Investigators later found that 180 of those questions were “precisely identical” to the actual NEET-UG paper.

The court granted seven-day CBI custody of five accused: Yash Yadav from Gurugram; Mangilal Khatik, Vikash Biwal and Dinesh Biwal from Jaipur; and Khairnar from Nashik.

Separately, the agency arrested Dhananjay Lokhanda from Ahilyanagar and Manisha Waghmare from Pune on Thursday.

CBI said raids at 14 locations over the past 24 hours yielded incriminating chats, leaked question papers and digital evidence, including mobile phones. Investigators also visited NTA headquarters in Delhi to collect documents, while deleted digital data is being sent for forensic examination.

The agency’s remand plea outlined the alleged chain of distribution. Investigators claim Khairnar obtained the paper from the unnamed Pune contact and informed Yadav in April that Mangilal Khatik was willing to pay ₹10-12 lakh for leaked NEET questions for his younger son.

On April 29, Khairnar allegedly shared 500-600 Physics, Chemistry and Biology questions with Yadav through Telegram. Yadav was reportedly connected to Vikash Biwal through NEET coaching classes in Rajasthan’s Sikar, which investigators say facilitated the arrangement.

CBI alleged that Mangilal received printed copies of the leaked papers and distributed them to his younger son, relatives and acquaintances appearing for the exam. The agency also claimed Yadav asked Vikash to recruit additional candidates to recover part of the money spent obtaining the leak.

Senior public prosecutor Neetu Singh told the court that investigators needed custodial interrogation to uncover the wider conspiracy, including the role of public servants and a possible printing press involved in reproducing the papers.

The agency said it is now focused on identifying the alleged “NTA source” believed to be the critical link explaining how the question paper left the testing agency’s custody.

Defence lawyers opposed the remand, arguing the arrests were illegal because the accused had not been informed of the grounds for arrest and that custodial interrogation was unnecessary.