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CBI officials said that multiple teams have been dispatched across the country to probe the case
Students at a NEET exam centre. (PTI File)
Amid countrywide outrage over cancelled NEET exams, the Central Bureau of Investigation has taken over the probe in the case of the alleged leak of the question paper for the medical entrance test.
“Based on a written complaint received from the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India, CBI has registered an FIR regarding the alleged irregularities and paper leak in the conduct of NEET-UG 2026 Exam,” a CBI spokesperson said.
The CBI has registered the case under various sections of BNS, Public Examination Prevention of Unfair Means Act 2024, and PC Act for offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, theft and destruction of evidence.
Agency officials said that multiple teams have been dispatched across the country to probe the case. Investigators suspect that though the epicentre of the leak is Rajasthan, the conspiracy has links in Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Kerala, among other states. CBI is likely to seek custody of 3 people arrested by the Rajasthan SOG in the case, for further questioning.
The NEET UG – 2026 Examination was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on 03.05.2026, and the exam was cancelled on May 12 after paper leak reports surfaced.
The Ministry of Education, in its complaint to the CBI, alleged that the National Testing Agency received a complaint and input regarding the reported circulation of some documents pertaining to the NEET (UG) – 2026 Examination. These documents were reportedly circulated in an unauthorised manner, hours before the conduct of the examination.
“The allegations indicate a possible compromise of the sanctity and integrity of the examination process. The CBI has taken up the matter for a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the nature and extent of the alleged irregularities, as well as the involvement of individuals and entities connected therewith,” a CBI spokesperson said.
Preliminary probe
The preliminary probe suggests that the chemistry and biology guess papers circulated before the exam were compromised.
The Rajasthan police probe revealed that around 60 questions were exactly the same as those asked in the actual exam conducted on May 3rd. Not a single word or punctuation was found changed, as per officials.
The CBI is likely to focus on a WhatsApp group called ‘Private Mafia’ with 400-plus members.
The group description allegedly mentioned that the purpose of the group “was to share leaked question banks, and members should not forward the papers outside the group”. Various other encrypted platforms are also under the scanner.
CBI teams are likely to focus on Sikar, the alleged point of origin of the leak. Investigators suspect that Rakesh Mandawaria, one of the arrested accused, was the first to receive the leaked papers in April. Probe is on to ascertain if Mandawaria passed on the paper to an MBBS student from Churu who is studying medicine in Kerala. Mandawaria is an education consultant who runs SK Consultancy on Piprali Road in Sikar. A probe is on to ascertain if he transmitted the online and offline versions of the paper to Jhunjhunu, Dehradun and other locations.
Digital devices of Mandawaria and other suspects will be sent for forensic tests for more evidence pertaining to the leak. The CBI, as per officials, will also focus on the money trail to uncover the conspiracy.
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