3 weeks ago
NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak: CBI Chargesheet Traces Multi-State Trail
Every year, many students in India take a very important test called NEET to try to get into medical school.
This year, the test was about to happen when some people found out that the questions had been shared with certain students before the test.
That is called a paper leak, and it is not fair to all the other students.
The people in charge became worried that cheating had happened, so they cancelled the test and held a new one later.
The police, called the CBI, started investigating who leaked the questions.
They found that some subject experts who helped make the test may have copied the questions and shared them with middlemen.
The middlemen then sold or gave the questions to students and coaching centres in different states, including Rajasthan and Kerala.
The police found messages, money transfers and printed question sets as clues.
The investigation is still going on, and the police have named 13 people they believe were involved.
The CBI has filed a chargesheet against 13 accused in the NEET-UG 2026 question paper leak case.
The leak allegedly originated inside the National Testing Agency (NTA) with subject experts memorising, marking NCERT passages and writing 'chits' to reconstruct questions.
NEET-UG 2026 was held on May 3 for about two million students, cancelled after leak allegations, and a re-examination was conducted on June 21.
Investigators traced the leaked paper's spread through networks in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu and Sikar and a hostel at Mount Zion Medical College in Adoor, Kerala.
The leak came to light after chemistry teacher Shashikant Suthar alerted the NTA and Rajasthan Police about a 'guess paper' closely matching the actual exam.
The paper was allegedly sold for Rs 10-25 lakh across several states, with one intermediary demanding Rs 40,000 for sharing the leaked paper.
Original Class X and XII marksheets of candidates were allegedly deposited as security instead of payment for the leaked paper.
- Who
- The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), 13 accused including NTA subject experts, middlemen and beneficiary candidates, and teacher Shashikant Suthar who reported the leak
- What
- A chargesheet was filed over the leak of the NEET-UG 2026 medical entrance question paper, leading to the exam's cancellation and re-examination
- Where
- Rajasthan (Jhunjhunu, Sikar) and Kerala (Adoor), with origins traced inside the National Testing Agency
- When
- The paper was allegedly delivered on April 30, 2026; NEET-UG 2026 was held on May 3 and re-held on June 21
- Why
- The conspiracy allegedly sought financial gain, with the paper reportedly sold for Rs 10-25 lakh and demands of Rs 10-12 lakh or Rs 40,000 for access
Allegations Against the Accused
Presumption of Innocence / Investigative Process
Guilt of Accused
Allegations Against the Accused
The CBI chargesheet alleges a detailed conspiracy where experts leaked questions, middlemen distributed them, and candidates paid for them.
Presumption of Innocence / Investigative Process
The chargesheet contains allegations under investigation; the accused are yet to be proven guilty in court.
Fixing the Exam System
Allegations Against the Accused
Experts could leak questions because staff entering the confidential section were not frisked, showing NTA security failures.
Presumption of Innocence / Investigative Process
The articles do not include any official response from the NTA defending its processes or presenting a different account.
Key facts
- Exam
- NEET-UG 2026 (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test)
- Accused
- 13 people charged in CBI chargesheet
- Original Exam Date
- May 3, 2026 (about two million students)
- Re-examination Date
- June 21, 2026
- Investigating Agency
- Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), after complaint by Union Ministry of Education
- Key Locations
- Jhunjhunu and Sikar (Rajasthan), Adoor (Kerala)
- Alleged Price
- Rs 10-25 lakh across states; Rs 10-12 lakh quoted to arrange paper; Rs 40,000 demanded by one intermediary
- Leak Origin
- NTA confidential question-setting and translation process
Sources
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