NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak: CBI Charges 13, Alleges NTA Experts Ran Multi-State Question Paper Racket

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged that the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak was the outcome of a meticulously planned, multi-state criminal conspiracy involving National Testing Agency (NTA) subject experts, coaching operators, brokers and candidates.

In a chargesheet filed before the Special CBI Court at Delhi's Rouse Avenue Courts, the agency has named 13 accused and claimed that confidential examination papers were illegally accessed, circulated through encrypted messaging platforms and sold to aspirants for hefty sums.

According to the CBI, the alleged conspiracy was not a last-minute breach but a carefully orchestrated operation that began months before the examination. The agency has invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

NTA Experts Accused of Leaking Confidential Papers

The chargesheet alleges that three NTA-appointed subject experts-Botany expert Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, Chemistry expert Prahlad Vithalrao Kulkarni and Physics expert Manisha Sanjay Havaldar-misused their official positions to access confidential NEET-UG 2026 question papers and share them with members of the conspiracy before the examination.

Investigators claim coaching operators and intermediaries cultivated relationships with the experts well before the examination process, arranging meetings and financial transactions to secure access to the question papers.

Multi-Layer Distribution Network

According to the CBI, the leaked papers moved through a structured chain rather than directly from the experts to candidates.

The agency alleges that coaching operators and intermediaries, including Tejas Shah, Shivraj Motegaonkar, Dr Manoj Shirure, Manisha Sanjay Waghmare, Dhananjay Lokhande, Shubham Khairnar, Yash Yadav, Mangilal Biwal, Dinesh Biwal and Vikas Biwal, played different roles in distributing the leaked material and facilitating payments.

The investigation claims the papers travelled from NTA experts to private operators and brokers before finally reaching candidates willing to pay substantial amounts.

WhatsApp, Telegram Trail Key Evidence

The CBI says forensic examination of seized mobile phones, pen drives and other digital devices uncovered PDF files, photographs of question papers and chat records that helped investigators reconstruct the movement of the leaked papers.

According to the chargesheet, investigators recovered Telegram conversations from accused Yash Yadav's mobile phone with a contact saved as "AP Broker", identified during the probe as co-accused Shubham Madhukar Khairnar. PDF copies of the leaked NEET-UG 2026 question paper were also allegedly found on Yadav's device.

Searches at the residence of accused Manisha Sanjay Waghmare also led to the recovery of a mobile phone containing a WhatsApp group titled "NEET 2026", which the agency claims formed part of the communication network used by the conspirators.

The CBI has relied on call detail records, forensic extraction reports and electronic evidence to corroborate witness statements and establish communication among the accused.

Money Trail and Security Documents

The investigation also points to a financial network behind the alleged leak.

According to the agency, accused Mangilal Biwal received leaked questions through Telegram from Yash Yadav and later handed over his original Class X and XII certificates along with a signed blank cheque as security for payment. These documents were subsequently recovered during searches.

The chargesheet further alleges that Khairnar procured the leaked papers from Dhananjay Lokhande in a deal worth ₹25 lakh. Lokhande, in turn, allegedly received the confidential material from Manisha Waghmare, who arranged physical delivery through intermediaries.

The agency has treated the exchange of educational certificates, signed blank cheques and other documents as corroborative evidence of the commercial arrangement behind the alleged paper leak.

Candidates Offered Questions for Rs 4 Lakh

The CBI has also detailed statements recorded from candidates during the investigation.

According to the chargesheet, one candidate and her father were allegedly offered access to the NEET-UG 2026 question paper for ₹4 lakh. The proposal reportedly included coaching support and offline revision classes conducted by one of the NTA subject experts. The agency traced these interactions to late 2025 and early 2026.

CBI Claims Strong Electronic Evidence

The agency maintains that forensic analysis of electronic devices, chat records, recovered documents and witness statements collectively establish a coordinated criminal conspiracy involving public servants, coaching operators, brokers and candidates.

The CBI has charged all 13 accused under provisions relating to criminal conspiracy, cheating, corruption and unfair means in public examinations, asserting that the electronic trail forms the backbone of its case. According to the chargesheet, all 13 accused are currently in judicial custody.

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