Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 29: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against 13 arrested accused in the alleged NEET 2026 paper leak case, exposing the involvement of middlemen and coaching institute staff in sourcing and distributing leaked question papers.
According to the CBI, the investigation revealed that several middlemen acted as intermediaries in obtaining the leaked question papers from National Testing Agency (NTA) subject experts and distributing them through coaching networks. Two individuals associated with coaching institutes were arrested for allegedly procuring the leaked papers from the experts. The agency also traced the money trail in the case and froze several bank accounts, bank lockers and a demat account linked to the accused.
The chargesheet has been filed under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, destruction of evidence and other related offences. The accused have also been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. The CBI has cited 360 witnesses, 422 documents and 43 material objects in support of the chargesheet.
The investigating agency had registered an FIR on May 12 and formed multiple teams to probe the alleged paper leak. Searches were carried out at 92 locations across Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi and other states, leading to the seizure of digital devices, communication equipment and documents believed to be linked to the conspiracy.
During the course of the investigation, the CBI arrested 13 accused, including three NTA subject experts in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The accused include NTA Biology expert Manisha Mandhare, Chemistry expert Pralhad Vithalrao Kulkarni, Physics expert Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, middleperson Manisha Sanjay Waghmare, middlemen Dhananjay Nivrutti Lokhande, Shubham Madhukar Khairnar, Yash Yadav, Mangilal Biwal, Vikash Biwal, Dinesh Biwal and Dr Manoj Bhagwanrao Shirure, along with Shivraj Raghunath Motegoankar, owner of RCC Coaching Institute in Latur, and Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, Physics faculty and Chief Operating Officer at APMA Coaching Institute in Pune.
The NEET paper leak sparked nationwide protests and demands for accountability. Amid mounting public pressure over the controversy, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post on July 25.