CBI names 13 accused in NEET-UG 2026 paper leak conspiracy chargesheet

The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI has concluded that the alleged NEETUG 2026 paper leak was the outcome of a wellorganised multistate criminal conspiracy involving National Testing Agency NTA subject experts coaching operators brokers and candidatesThe agency has filed a chargesheet before the Special CBI Court at Rouse Avenue in Delhi naming 13 accused including three NTAappointed subject experts alleging they played key roles in leaking confidential examination papers in exchange for large sums of moneyCBI names 13 accused in chargesheetAccording to the chargesheet the accused include Botany expert Manisha Gurunath Mandhare Chemistry expert Prahlad Vithalrao Kulkarni and Physics expert Manisha Sanjay Havaldar all of whom were appointed by the NTA for the conduct of NEETUG 2026The CBI alleged that the three experts misused their official positions to gain unauthorised access to confidential question papers before the examination and shared them with members of the alleged conspiracyThe agency has invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examinations Prevention of Unfair Means Act 2024According to the CBI the leaked question papers moved through a structured chain involving coaching operators middlemen and brokers before reaching candidatesThe chargesheet names private accused Tejas Shah Shivraj Motegaonkar Dr Manoj Shirure Manisha Sanjay Waghmare Dhananjay Lokhande Shubham Khairnar Yash Yadav Mangilal Biwal Dinesh Biwal and Vikas Biwal alleging that each played a role in distributing the leaked papers or arranging paymentsInvestigators claim the conspiracy extended across multiple states with confidential examination material allegedly being circulated several days before the testDigital evidence forms key part of probeThe CBI said forensic examination of seized mobile phones pen drives and other electronic devices uncovered PDF and image files allegedly containing leaked NEETUG 2026 question papersAccording to the agency the files were exchanged through messaging platforms including Telegram and WhatsApp before the examinationInvestigators said the digital trail established how the leaked papers moved between different accusedThe agency alleged that Mangilal Biwal received the leaked questions from coaccused Yash Yadav through Telegram before handing over educational certificates and a signed blank cheque as security to one of Yadavs associates These documents were later recovered during searches the CBI claimedWhatsApp groups under scannerThe investigation further alleges that Yash Yadav received the leaked question papers from Nashikbased accused Shubham Khairnar whose chats with Yadav and copies of the leaked questions were recovered during forensic analysisThe CBI claimed Khairnar purchased the leaked papers from Dhananjay Lokhande in a deal allegedly worth Rs 25 lakhAccording to the chargesheet Lokhande obtained the papers through Manisha Sanjay Waghmare who allegedly arranged for physical copies to be supplied through intermediariesSearches conducted at Waghmares residence reportedly led to the recovery of a mobile phone containing a WhatsApp group titled NEET 2026 which investigators believe was used in connection with the alleged conspiracyCandidates allegedly offered leaked papersThe CBI also referred to statements recorded from candidates during the investigationAccording to the chargesheet one candidate and her father were allegedly offered access to the leaked NEETUG 2026 question papers for Rs 4 lakh along with coaching support and offline revision classes allegedly conducted by one of the NTA subject expertsThe agency said these interactions took place during late 2025 and early 2026 as part of the alleged conspiracyThe CBI has maintained that forensic analysis of electronic devices recovered documents chat records and witness statements collectively establish the alleged criminal conspiracy abuse of official position by public servants and the illegal circulation of confidential NEETUG 2026 examination material before the test was conductedWith inputs from ANI