New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation has submitted a comprehensive chargesheet before the Special CBI Court at Rouse Avenue in Delhi, unraveling a multi-state conspiracy in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. The investigative agency has named 13 accused persons, alleging that the breach was orchestrated from within through National Testing Agency-appointed subject experts who exploited their official access and circulated confidential examination material via messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram.
The high-profile investigation details how confidential question papers were allegedly leaked months before the examination. According to the chargesheet, three NTA subject experts—identified as Botany specialist Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, Chemistry expert Prahlad Vithalrao Kulkarni, and Physics expert Manisha Sanjay Havaldar—abused their positions. Investigators found that these experts were tasked not only with setting the examination papers but also with handling their regional translations, giving them prolonged and unmonitored access to final question sets.
The CBI asserts that the leaked content was smuggled out of the NTA offices through memorization or written notes, and subsequently handed over to private coaching operators, brokers, and intermediaries. Forensic extraction of seized electronic devices, including mobile phones and pen drives, revealed a complex digital trail. Investigators recovered PDF documents, photographs of question papers, and chat archives from encrypted platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram that mapped the distribution chain directly to candidates willing to pay for advance access.
This multi-layered conspiracy had a profound impact on lakhs of aspirants nationwide. The examination, initially conducted on May 3, was canceled following widespread allegations of a paper leak, causing severe academic stress and anxiety among students and their families before a re-examination was scheduled. The scandal also highlighted critical security lapses within testing infrastructure, prompting intense scrutiny over institutional oversight and the handling of confidential documents.
While the agency continues its probe into the financial trails and security loopholes, legal experts emphasize that strict accountability remains essential to restore absolute trust in India’s premier competitive examination systems.