NEET-UG 2026 Crisis: ₹30 Lakh Deal, 45 Suspects, CBI Probe Widens, SC Intervention Sought

The NEET-UG 2026 paper leak scandal entered a combustible new phase on Wednesday as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) dramatically widened its investigation across multiple states, a medical body approached the Supreme Court demanding a complete overhaul of the examination system, and the political temperature spiked sharply after photographs of key accused persons alongside senior political leaders surfaced on social media.

In a significant escalation, the CBI visited the National Testing Agency (NTA) headquarters to collect key documents related to the cancelled examination. The agency also interacted with officials involved in the conduct of NEET-UG 2026 and has taken custody of several suspects earlier detained by state police. Among them, Shubham Khairnar (30) from Nashik was sent to CBI transit remand by a local court after being detained on a request from Rajasthan Police. Several other accused are also being examined as part of the widening probe.

Investigators on Wednesday traced an increasingly detailed picture of the racket. The paper allegedly travelled from a Nashik printing press to Rajasthan’s Sikar via a doctor in Gurugram , Haryana, before spreading across Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Kerala and Uttarakhand . A Gurugram based doctor has emerged as a key suspect, with two brothers from Rajasthan’s Jamwa Ramgarh alleged to have purchased the paper for ₹30 lakh , in a transaction said to have taken place on April 26, nearly a week before the examination. Officials confirmed that a network of at least 45 suspects across multiple states has been identified, with arrests already made in several regions.

The CBI also arrested another accused from Maharashtra’s Ahilya Nagar district , deploying teams for on ground verification, digital evidence collection and interrogation. Separately, a parent in Latur filed a complaint alleging that a private coaching institute conducted a mock test in which 42 questions matched the actual NEET paper , prompting a sub divisional inquiry.

Digital investigation has also intensified, with CBI teams examining messaging platforms where question papers were allegedly circulated in closed groups. Officials said these digital channels are central to mapping the wider conspiracy network.

The political landscape was further shaken by photographs showing accused persons Dinesh Binwal and Mangilal alongside BJP leaders, including Rajasthan Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore . Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot accused the state government of shielding politically linked individuals, while the BJP denied any organisational connection with the accused. The Congress demanded a JPC probe and called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan , who has not yet addressed the media on the controversy.

On the legal front, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) moved the Supreme Court under Article 32 , demanding either replacement or restructuring of the National Testing Agency (NTA) into a more autonomous and technologically advanced body. The plea also seeks formation of a National Examination Integrity Commission , headed by a retired Supreme Court judge with cybersecurity and forensic experts, along with mandatory digital safeguards, computer-based testing, and a CBI status report within four weeks.

The cancellation marks the first such instance in NEET history since its introduction in 2016, adding to earlier concerns raised in 2024 over irregularities in select centres. The CBI FIR includes charges under criminal conspiracy, cheating, breach of trust, theft and destruction of evidence , along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examinations Prevention of Unfair Means Act 2024 .

With the Supreme Court now seized of the matter , arrests multiplying, and political allegations intensifying, the NEET-UG 2026 scandal has expanded into a full-scale institutional crisis. For 23 lakh students , uncertainty over the re-exam continues, while the credibility of India’s most crucial medical entrance test faces one of its biggest tests yet.