NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak: CBI Chargesheets 13 Including NTA Experts Amid Massive Political Fallout
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In a breakthrough that has sent shockwaves through the education sector, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has officially filed a detailed chargesheet against 13 individuals in the highly controversial NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. Submitted before a special court in New Delhi, the chargesheet meticulously outlines a deep-rooted conspiracy. All 13 accused, who include paper experts, coaching institute operators, intermediaries, and beneficiary students, are currently in judicial custody.
Irrefutable Digital and Forensic Evidence
Building a watertight case, the investigative agency has invoked strict provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for cheating, criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, and destroying evidence. Furthermore, they have slapped charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the newly enacted Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. The CBI's extensive dossier is backed by 422 critical documents, 43 material objects, and testimonies from 360 witnesses. According to the agency's spokesperson, digital forensic analysis and handwriting experts have conclusively proven that the leaked questions were circulated well before the examination date.
The Masterminds: NTA Experts and Coaching Mafias
Unmasking the source of the leak, the CBI has explicitly named three arrested subject experts from the National Testing Agency (NTA). The compromised officials include chemistry expert PV Kulkarni, biology expert Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, and physics expert Manisha Sanjay Havaldar. The nexus was also heavily involved with the coaching mafia in Maharashtra. Key figures arrested include Latur-based medical practitioner Manoj Shirure, coaching centre associate Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, and Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, a physics faculty member at a prominent Pune-based medical academy. These individuals allegedly procured the papers directly from the experts and distributed them through a network of intermediaries.
Pan-India Raids and Freezing the Money Trail
The scale of this scam prompted the CBI to conduct massive search operations across 92 locations, covering New Delhi, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, and other states. During the intensive two-month investigation, detectives successfully mapped out the entire supply chain of the leaked papers, from the initial breach to the final student beneficiaries. Striking at the financial core of the syndicate, the agency tracked the illicit money movement, freezing numerous bank accounts, safe deposit lockers, and a demat account belonging to the conspirators.
Nationwide Outrage and a High-Profile Resignation
The NEET-UG 2026 exam, originally conducted on May 3, was marred by these irregularities, forcing the Centre to hand over the probe to the CBI on May 12 and conduct a re-test on June 21. However, the sheer magnitude of the scam ignited extreme political and public outrage. Frustrated students took to the streets across the country. The breaking point came during a massive demonstration at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar, spearheaded by Gen Z protestors from the Cockroach Janta Party. The relentless agitation and public pressure ultimately culminated in the high-profile resignation of the then Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan.
