NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak Investigation Intensifies Amid CBI Scrutiny

The inquiry into the NEET-UG 2026 question paper leak has revealed troubling aspects, with an unnamed official from the National Testing Agency (NTA) now reportedly a focus of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This development follows the arrests of Manisha Sanjay Waghmare and chemistry lecturer P. V. Kulkarni, both involved in the leak, leading to the cancellation of the exam initially scheduled for May 3.

Waghmare and Kulkarni have been remanded in CBI custody for 10 days. Reports suggest that during operations to seek Waghmare’s custody, signs of a potential inside job were discovered. The agency has alleged that Waghmare, in collaboration with Kulkarni and the unidentified NTA official, received exam papers and answer keys on April 27.

Waghmare was introduced to Kulkarni, who the CBI claims functions as the primary architect behind the leak, through biology lecturer Manisha Mandhare. She was also arrested and is in custody for 14 days as the investigation unfolds. The CBI states that Waghmare gathered the leaked questions from Kulkarni and then disseminated them to other individuals, including Dhananjay Lokhande, in exchange for financial compensation.

Lokhande was arrested on May 13 in Maharashtra's Ahilyanagar and is implicated in the further distribution of the questions. Allegations indicate that handwritten chemistry questions provided to students have been destroyed, along with additional papers by Waghmare after the cancelled examination on May 3.

The investigation continues to delve into the potential for an insider's involvement in the paper leak, with Mandhare's links to Waghmare and Kulkarni adding complexity to the case. As a subject expert for the NTA, Mandhare had direct access to the finalised question sets for NEET-UG 2026, according to CBI sources. She, along with the others, reportedly conspired to provide exam-related questions to chosen candidates for hefty fees.

In light of the ongoing investigation, the NTA announced that the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination will take place on Sunday, June 21, 2026, following the cancellation due to the leak scandal that has incited public outrage. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has indicated that from next year onwards, the NEET exam will transition to a computer-based testing format. This examination is critical for admission into medical colleges across India. However, this incident has sparked significant concerns regarding the integrity and security of one of India’s most significant entrance examinations.