NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak Row Escalates as Protests Spread, CBI Widens Probe

The NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy intensified on Thursday after NSUI workers showed black flags to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Ahmedabad, while investigators said the leaked material may have reached nearly 1,000 students in Rajasthan alone.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has now taken over the probe, has questioned multiple suspects across Rajasthan, Haryana, Maharashtra and Delhi as pressure mounts on the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA) over the cancellation of the medical entrance examination.

Protest In Ahmedabad

The latest political flashpoint emerged in Ahmedabad where NSUI activists attempted to stop the convoy of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and waved black flags during his visit. Police personnel quickly intervened and detained several protesters at the spot.

The demonstration comes amid growing anger among students and parents after the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026, one of the country’s largest entrance examinations, attended by over 22.79 lakh candidates on May 3.

Pradhan has so far avoided detailed public comments on the ongoing investigation. Earlier this week, he left without responding to media questions in Delhi regarding the leak allegations.

CBI Expands Investigation

The CBI has brought several accused persons to Delhi for questioning after taking over the case from state agencies. Officials familiar with the matter said investigators are examining links between coaching operators, middlemen and students allegedly connected to the leak network.

Among those detained is Yash Yadav, a first-year BAMS student from Gurugram’s Farrukhnagar area. Rajasthan Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) suspects he was part of the distribution chain.

In Pune, Manisha Waghmare, identified as a beautician, was also taken into custody during the probe.

At the same time, investigators released multiple individuals after questioning, including Vikram Yadav, Yogesh Prajapat, Sandeep Haritwal and others. Authorities indicated that questioning is still underway and more arrests are possible.

Rajasthan Network Under Lens

The focus of the NEET paper leak investigation remains heavily centred on Rajasthan, particularly Sikar and Jaipur districts.

Rajasthan SOG officials claimed the leaked question material may have reached around 1,000 aspirants in the state before the examination. Investigators are now tracing digital transfers, WhatsApp forwards and financial transactions linked to the alleged racket.

Two brothers from Jaipur district’s Jamwaramgarh area — Mangilal Bival and Dinesh Bival — have emerged as key accused in the case. Officials are examining their assets, including reports of luxury vehicles and a farmhouse.

The brothers have reportedly claimed during questioning that “big people are being protected” in the case, though investigators have not publicly confirmed any larger political or institutional links.

Question Bank Trail

According to the probe so far, the leak did not initially circulate as a complete paper but as a handwritten “question bank” containing over 300 questions from Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

Officials said nearly 150 of those questions later appeared in the actual NEET-UG 2026 examination paper.

Investigators believe the material originated from Kerala and reached Rajasthan through students and local coaching-linked networks.

The timeline reconstructed by agencies suggests that on May 1, an MBBS student from Kerala allegedly sent the question bank to a contact in Sikar. The material was then shared with students staying in paying guest accommodations and circulated further through counsellors and messaging groups.

On May 3, after the examination concluded, a PG operator in Sikar reportedly alerted local police and the NTA about the suspicious material being circulated before the exam.

NTA Admits Irregularities

NTA Director General Abhishek Singh acknowledged on May 12 that irregularities had occurred and said the examination would be conducted again. A fresh exam schedule is expected within the next six to eight days.

The agency has admitted that inputs regarding suspicious question circulation were received on May 7 through a whistleblower complaint. Investigators later found that the PDF containing leaked questions was allegedly present on some mobile phones before the exam date.

The government subsequently handed over the matter to the CBI, which has registered an FIR.

Supreme Court Petition Filed

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has moved the Supreme Court seeking a re-examination under court supervision.

In its petition, FAIMA questioned the credibility of the current examination system and demanded restructuring of the NTA’s functioning.

The controversy has also triggered sharp political reactions. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the government of failing students, while former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged political patronage in recurring paper leak cases.

Education experts and coaching industry representatives have meanwhile renewed calls for NEET to shift to a computer-based testing model, arguing that pen-and-paper examinations remain vulnerable to organised leaks.

The NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case is now among the biggest examination controversies in recent years, with the investigation expected to widen further in the coming days.