NEET row: CBI chargesheets 13 in paper leak

NEW DELHI: Seventy-seven days after it filed an FIR and began a probe into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, CBI Tuesday filed a chargesheet against 13 individuals arrested in the case. These include three NTA subject experts, in chemistry, biology and physics. Several middlemen who sourced and distributed these leaked questions have also been charged. The agency has cited 360 witnesses, 422 documents and 43 material objects to back its case, which concluded that persons responsible for setting the questions had leaked them, in connivance with their associates, including middlemen and coaching centre owners. The accused have been charged with offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, destruction of evidence and others under BNS, for the offence of criminal misconduct under Prevention of Corruption Act and for offences under Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. 3 NTA subject experts and several middlemen among those named "Digital forensic analysis reports, handwriting expert opinions and academic experts' opinions regarding leaked questions were obtained. These reports confirmed the role of the accused in the circulation of leaked questions prior to the date of examination," CBI said in its final report. All 13 accused persons are in judicial custody. If the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill is passed, their trial is expected to be completed within three months. CBI had started an investigation on a complaint of the department of higher education on May 1, detailing irregularities and allegations of a paper leak in the NEET-UG 2026 examination. "The probe team led by agency chief Praveen Sood acted swiftly to unearth the source of the leak within weeks of registration of the case. The channel from source of the leak to the beneficiary candidates was unearthed, leading to the identification of the chain," an officer said. After the filing of an FIR, Sood immediately formed multiple teams comprising 72 officers and personnel along with eight cyber forensic experts. "Searches were conducted at 92 locations in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi and other states. These searches led to seizure of incriminating material like digital and communication devices, documents, etc," a CBI officer said. Forensic imaging and analysis of the incriminating material was undertaken. Intelligence agencies also gave crucial technical inputs. The first arrest in this case was made on May 13, within 24 hours of registration of the case. A dozen others were subsequently arrested from Pune and other places. The accused, arrested and now chargesheeted, include NTA subject experts Manisha Mandhare (biology), Pralhad Vithalrao Kulkarni (chemistry) and Manisha Sanjay Havaldar (physics), along with middlepersons and intermediaries Manisha Sanjay Waghmare, Dhananjay Nivrutti Lokhande, Shubham Madhukar Khairnar, Yash Yadav, Mangilal Biwal, Vikash Biwal, Dinesh Biwal and Dr Manoj Bhagwanrao Shirure. The chargesheet also names prominent coaching institute figures Shivraj Raghunath Motegoankar, owner of RCC Coaching Institute in Latur, and Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, physics faculty member and COO at APMA Coaching Institute in Pune. The money trail analysis has been conducted and several bank accounts, bank lockers and a demat account of the accused have been frozen. "Further investigation and forensic analysis is continuing in the case. CBI is committed to ensuring that those responsible for such offences face full legal consequences for their actions," the spokesperson added. With pending forensic reports expected in the coming days, CBI is likely to file a supplementary chargesheet in the case, the sources said. [Image text:] GRIFFEL FNOANO OLICE NARE 7006