The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, has identified Dhananjay Lokhande as the key suspect who is most likely the mastermind of the vast network. Arrested from Ahilyanagar in Maharashtra, he was produced before the Rouse Avenue court on Friday in connection with the alleged conspiracy to leak the UG NEET question paper.
According to reports, the leak originated from Maharashtra’s Nashik and spread across Haryana. It was printed and distributed in several districts of Rajasthan, including Sikar, Jaipur and Jamwa Ramgarh. Eventually, the leaked version reached candidates in Bihar, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and several other states.
While tracking the digital and financial network linked to the leak, the CBI has so far arrested 7 people in the case. An investigation into the alleged irregularities revealed the involvement of at least 45 people. Two arrests were made on Thursday, including Dhananjaya Lokhanda from Ahilyanagar (Maharashtra) and Manisha Waghmare from Pune (Maharashtra). Five more accused were arrested on May 13 – three from Jaipur, one from Gurugram and one from Nashik. It is alleged that the accused Manisha Waghmare gave the exam paper to Dhananjaya and handed it over to Shubham Khairnar.
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The NEET 2026 paper leak originated in Nashik, Maharashtra and spread to Haryana. It was then printed and distributed in Rajasthan districts like Sikar, Jaipur and Jamwa Ramgarh and eventually reached candidates in Bihar, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and other states.
Shubham Khairnar allegedly secured the leaked NEET 2026 paper on 28 April 2026 from a contact in Pune who obtained it through an NTA contact. He then struck a deal to distribute it for monetary gain, thus ensuring aspirants high grades and acceptance.
Shubham Khairnar’s WhatsApp chats revealed his involvement in the distribution of the leaked paper. Yash Yadav reportedly received PDF files for Physics, Chemistry and Biology through Telegram and later shared them on the same platform after striking a deal with Mangilal Khatik.
The NTA has canceled the NEET UG 2026 exam held on May 3 and has scheduled a re-examination on June 21. The CBI is investigating the case and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said that NTA is fully responsible and has ensured zero mistakes in future.
Yes, NEET medical entrance test will be conducted as computer based test (CBT) instead of OMR from next year. The goal of this change is to address the underlying issues that contribute to unfair practices such as the recent paper leak.
Read also | NEET 2026 cancellation: FAIMA moves SC over ‘systematic failure’ of NTA
How Shubham Khairnar got and distributed NEET-UG 2026 paper through WhatsApp, Telegram?
Another key accused, Shubham Khairnar from Maharashtra’s Nashik, according to the agency, allegedly secured the leaked NEET question paper of April 28, 2026. He obtained the paper from a person in Pune who obtained it through a contact at the National Testing Agency (NTA). CBI’s preliminary findings found that the NEET paper leak was a bigger conspiracy involving officials of NTA and other departments.
Details from Shubham Khairnar’s WhatsApp chats revealed that he had assured NEET aspirants of high marks and admission in prestigious colleges by offering candidates a “guarantee” of 500 to 600 marks in the 720-mark exam, NDTV reported.
According to the investigating agency, Shubham entered into an agreement to buy the leaked papers and distribute them for monetary gain. “Shubham is alleged to have obtained the paper on April 28, 2026 from another person in Pune who obtained the same from his alleged source NTA,” the CBI said before the court on Thursday.
Read also | NEET paper leak: The exam will be computer based instead of OMR from next year
Initial investigations suggest that Shubham struck a deal that has value ₹15 lakh with accused Yash Yadav for the leaked paper. With WhatsApp chats between the two recovered from Yash Yadav’s mobile phone as evidence of the conspiracy, the CBI alleged that Shubham had deleted the incriminating material from his device. Shubham’s mobile phone was seized for forensic examination.
The investigation also pointed to the alleged use of Telegram to circulate a leaked PDF question document. On April 29, Yash Yadav allegedly received PDF files for Physics, Chemistry and Biology through a social networking app. After getting the leaked files, Yash Yadav struck a deal with accused Mangilal Khatik for a deal worth ₹10 lakh and shared the documents on the same platform.
The CBI revealed that Mangilal was the father of another accused Vikas Biwala. He later reportedly came in contact with Yash Yadav during coaching courses in Rajasthan’s Sikar district. The circulation of the question papers even went far as Mangilal allegedly shared hard copies of the leaked papers with his other son, a cousin and his son’s friend, PTI reported.
NTA on May 12 canceled the NEET UG exam held on May 3. It was completed on June 21 for the UG entrance medical test in the midst of a paper leak probe.
What did Dharmendra Pradhan say about the CBI investigation?
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said at a press conference on Friday: “By May 7, objections were received through the NTA’s grievance redressal system stating that certain questions appearing in the alleged ‘guesswork’ also appeared in this year’s question paper. Discussions were held immediately and a preliminary matter was then initiated by both the NTA and the Ministry of Education before the concerned agencies of the Government of India.”
Read also | NEET 2026 re-exam date: NTA completes UG medical entrance test on June 21
He added, “At first glance, the problem appeared to be related to two or three states, so coordination was established with the agencies of those states as well. The process actually started on the night of May 7 and continued from May 8 onwards. Over the course of three to four days… 8, 9, 10 and 11. 12 for the sake of the students We did not want any deserving student to be deprived of his rights because of the conspiracy of education mafias or because he had some undeserved candidate benefit.”
