CBI files chargesheet in NEET leak
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a detailed chargesheet against 13 people arrested in the NEET-UG 2026 question paper leak case. They are charged with criminal conspiracy, cheating, breach of trust, destroying evidence, and other offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
They also face charges of criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act and violations of the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
The chargesheet includes 360 witnesses, 422 documents, and 43 material objects as evidence. All 13 accused remain in judicial custody. The case started after the Department of Higher Education, Government of India, filed a complaint on 12 May 2026 about irregularities and a possible paper leak in the NEET-UG 2026 exam, which took place on 3 May 2026. The CBI registered an FIR that day and formed several investigation teams with 72 officers and 8 cyber forensic experts.
They searched 92 locations across Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and other states.
Investigators collected key evidence, including digital devices, communication equipment, and documents, during their searches. They used forensic imaging and analysed these items to build the case. The CBI found the source of the leak within weeks of registering the FIR. The first arrest was made on May 13.
In total, 13 people have been arrested, including three subject-matter experts from the National Testing Agency (NTA) in Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. Several intermediaries who received and shared the leaked papers were also arrested. Two people linked to coaching institutes were arrested for obtaining the leaked papers from these experts. The investigation and forensic work are still in progress.
