CBI Widens NEET Paper Leak Net: Parents Under Scanner as Five-State Ring Emerges

Investigators tracking families who paid for leaked question paper; Maharashtra identified as main distribution hub

Paper sold across five states, Maharashtra leads

The CBI investigation into the NEET-UG paper leak has taken a significant turn, with central agencies now directly targeting affluent parents who allegedly purchased the leaked question paper across five states. Maharashtra has emerged as the epicentre of the distribution network, followed by Rajasthan, agency officials confirmed on Thursday.

The widening probe—now spanning four months since the May 3 exam—reveals a sophisticated operation where question papers were printed, circulated, and sold through a chain of middlemen and family members of the accused. Officials working on the case say the real magnitude of the leak may never be fully known.

"At this stage, it is impossible to determine precisely how many students received or sat with the leaked paper," a senior CBI official said on condition of anonymity. "What we're finding is that circulation was far more widespread than initially thought."

The supply chain unfolds

Investigators have identified Maharashtra as the primary distribution hub, from where the so-called "question bank" was allegedly funneled into Rajasthan and several other states. The evidence emerged during interrogations of arrested accused and examination of digital devices seized during raids conducted across multiple locations.

The CBI's findings suggest that the leak operation extended beyond individual masterminds. Family members of key accused persons—identified as Shivraj Motegaonkar and P V Kulkarni, along with associate Manisha Waghmare of Pune—actively participated in circulating and selling papers to interested parties.

"Some of these family members weren't passive. They were actively involved in distribution and financial transactions," investigators said. The agency is now preparing a comprehensive list of all parents and guardians whose bank accounts transferred money to the accounts of the main accused.

Influential parents now in crosshairs

What has alarmed education officials is the involvement of high-profile parents willing to pay substantial sums to secure the leaked paper for their wards. The CBI has begun preparing files against these individuals and has already initiated raids in Maharashtra from Wednesday night.

Three dedicated teams within the agency are now tasked with apprehending the next link in this chain—the parents and students who purchased the leaked material. Similar operations are expected to commence in other affected states in the coming days.

The shift in focus reflects growing frustration within investigative circles over the apparent ease with which the paper circulated among affluent families. "This wasn't a random leak. It was a transaction-based system where access required money," an official explained.

National Testing Agency under pressure

While the CBI has exposed most of the major players involved in leaking and selling the paper, suspicions remain over external individuals still at large and some gaps in the National Testing Agency's oversight mechanisms. Two separate teams are gathering evidence against these remaining suspects.

The NTA has faced intense criticism following the leak. The agency received information about irregularities in the exam on the evening of May 7—four days after the May 3 test across 551 cities and 14 international centres. Around 23 lakh candidates had appeared for the examination.

The decision to cancel the exam came on May 12. The re-examination is scheduled for June 21, creating uncertainty for lakhs of students whose admission cycles now hang in balance.

Ground reality in affected states

In Jaipur, Rajasthan—identified as the second-biggest hub—Congress workers staged protests on Thursday demanding accountability from the Centre. Similar concerns have surfaced in other affected regions, with student groups questioning the adequacy of security protocols during national-level examinations.

Education officials acknowledge that the leak has exposed systemic vulnerabilities in how high-stakes exams are conducted and secured. "This incident will force a complete overhaul of our examination protocols," an NTA official said, requesting anonymity.

Road ahead uncertain

The CBI investigation is expected to proceed in phases. The current focus on identifying and prosecuting parents who purchased the leaked paper is seen as a critical step in dismantling the entire operation and deterring similar incidents in future.

However, investigators caution that the full extent of the leak may never be quantified. With documents distributed across multiple states through various channels, determining the total number of compromised candidates remains a significant challenge.

The re-examination on June 21 will proceed with enhanced security measures, though concerns linger over the credibility of the overall evaluation process and the fairness afforded to candidates who sit for the fresh test.