NEET UG 2026 Paper Leak – CBI Investigation and Chargesheet
On May 3, 2026, more than 22 lakh candidates sat for NEET UG 2026 across 5,432 centres. Within days, the NTA learned that a PDF containing hundreds of questions had been circulated before the exam, many of which matched the actual paper. Massive student protests followed, prompting the Centre to hand the case to the CBI. After three months, the agency filed a chargesheet on July 28, 2026 against 13 accused in a fast‑track court.
Key Developments
- Three NTA subject experts – Manisha Gurunath Mandhare (Biology), P.V. Kulkarni (Chemistry) and Manisha Sanjay Havaldar (Physics) – are alleged to have leaked confidential questions.
- Intermediaries, coaching centres and a broker network across Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh distributed printed copies for cash.
- CBI recovered handwritten question sheets, digital images from phones, and Telegram chats showing price negotiations ranging from ₹12 lakh to ₹10 lakh per paper.
- Evidence included CCTV footage of printing in Pune and a computer‑shop in Rajasthan, bank transaction trails, and forensic analysis of seized devices.
- The court is slated to take cognisance of the charges on August 10, 2026.
Important Facts
The leak operated through multiple channels rather than a single hand‑off. For Biology, NTA expert Mandhare allegedly shared questions via her own coaching classes. In Chemistry, Kulkarni passed questions to a network that produced 132 handwritten items, 111 of which matched the official set. The Physics leak involved Havaldar receiving ₹25,000 and a box of mangoes from Tejas Shah, who later destroyed the notebook; digital forensics recovered the images from phones.
Distribution moved from Pune to Nashik, then to Rajasthan. The Telegram platform was used by the Biwal family of Jaipur to receive PDFs, print them, and sell copies to candidates in the Sikar area.
Exam Relevance
Understanding this case helps aspirants in several GS papers:
- GS2 (Polity): Role and accountability of autonomous bodies like NTA and investigative agencies such as CBI.
- GS3 (Economy & Technology): Financial aspects of exam fraud, use of digital platforms like Telegram, and the impact of corruption on the education market.
- GS4 (Ethics): Ethical breach by public servants, misuse of official position, and the legal framework under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
Way Forward
To prevent recurrence, the government may consider:
- Strengthening security protocols in the NTA confidential section, including continuous CCTV coverage.
- Introducing real‑time digital watermarking of question papers to trace leaks.
- Enhancing inter‑agency coordination between CBI, cyber‑crime cells, and state police.
- Conducting periodic audits of coaching centres and brokers to curb the secondary market for leaked material.
These steps aim to safeguard the integrity of India’s most important medical entrance exam and uphold public trust in the examination system.