Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: The alleged leak of the NEET-UG 2026 question paper has widened into a sprawling multi-state investigation, with Rajasthan Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing a network that investigators say stretched from Maharashtra to Haryana and Rajasthan. The Centre cancelled the May 3 medical entrance examination, taken by nearly 22.79 lakh candidates across more than 5,400 centres in India and abroad, after concerns emerged over the integrity of the test.The CBI has since registered a case under charges including criminal conspiracy, cheating, corruption and provisions of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. At the centre of the Rajasthan probe is Sikar-based “paper solver” and “consultant” Rakesh Mandawaria, who was detained by the SOG on May 8 after allegedly boasting that more than 120 questions from a “guess paper” circulated among clients had appeared in the examination. Investigators say the leaked material allegedly contained all 90 Biology questions and 45 Chemistry questions from the exam, with copies reportedly sold for between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 25 lakh through a network spanning Rajasthan, Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Kerala. A coaching institute teacher later lodged a complaint at Sikar’s Udyog Nagar police station. “We have questioned 150 students and 70 others so far,” an SOG official said. “We suspect the questions were meant to be shared with only a few select buyers, but greed took over and someone leaked them outside the designated network.”
Rajasthan probe points investigators towards Maharashtra
Briefing reporters in Jaipur, Rajasthan SOG inspector general Ajay Pal Lamba said coordinated questioning across several districts had helped investigators trace the suspected movement of the paper before the examination. “Based on input received by the Police, Sikar Police, Jhunjhunu Police, Alwar Police, Jaipur City Police, Jaipur Rural Police and SOG teams together questioned individuals who were suspected of receiving the NEET-UG 2026 paper. After questioning more than 150 aspirants, their friends and their parents, it became clear that the paper was sent to Rajasthan, before the exams, by a resident of Haryana,” IG Lamba said. He added that further interrogation pointed investigators towards Maharashtra. “Upon questioning him, it was found that the paper came to him from Nashik, Maharashtra. After this information was shared with NTA, the Government of India ordered the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 exam. CBI has taken over the case,” he said. According to Lamba, the CBI has now been fully briefed on the Rajasthan probe and is examining several suspects. “CBI team is in touch with SOG, and their team has come here. Members of their team have been made aware of the police questioning so far. There are a few suspects who could be involved in this syndicate. All those suspects are also being questioned by the CBI. After questioning, further action will be taken by the CBI itself. A case has been registered by them, and further investigation is being done by them,” he said. “We presented more than about 24 suspects before the CBI team,” he added. However, Lamba said investigators had not yet found links between the alleged NEET network and older examination leak gangs previously active in Rajasthan. “Going by the facts emerging so far in the questioning till now, no links to any member of any gangs which have been active in exam paper leaks in Rajasthan so far have been found,” he said.
‘Guess paper’ matched 135 questions, says SOG
The SOG chief also addressed controversy surrounding the so-called “guess paper” that had gone viral online before the examination. “This is a paper set which is in the public domain. PDFs of Chemistry and Biology papers are in the public domain. The exam paper of examination conducted by NEET is also in the public domain. The PDF, which was going viral in the market, had two sets of Chemistry and Biology. So, 45 questions of Chemistry and 90 questions of Biology were found to be the perfect match along with their answers,” he said. Meanwhile, in Maharashtra, four CBI teams arrived at the crime branch Unit-2 office in Nashik to take custody of accused Shubham Khairnar, who had earlier been arrested by Nashik Police in connection with the alleged leak.
Bihar police uncover suspected ‘solver gang’
Separately, Bihar Police said they had uncovered a suspected NEET “solver gang” in Nalanda district during vehicle checks carried out ahead of the now-cancelled examination. Three men, including a second-year MBBS student, were arrested after police allegedly recovered cash, forged admit cards and digital evidence from two vehicles intercepted near Rajgir. Rajgir DSP Sunil Kumar Singh said heightened alertness had been maintained across the district because of the examination. “Since the NEET examination was scheduled for the 3rd May, a heightened state of alertness was in effect across the entire district. Consequently, we were conducting vehicle checks. We identified two vehicles that appeared suspicious. We stopped the vehicles and proceeded to question the occupants. One individual identified himself as a second-year MBBS student. Upon searching the vehicle, we discovered bundles of currency notes. When questioned about the money, he claimed it amounted to Rs 2 lakh. We took him along with the vehicle to the police station. There were a total of three individuals; all three were taken into custody at the station,” he said. Police later identified the accused as Awadhesh Kumar, Aman Kumar Singh and Pankaj Kumar. “The following morning, when the officers-in-charge began examining their mobile phones, they discovered numerous admit cards for various examinations, including NEET, records of financial transactions, and other pertinent details. Consequently, the ‘solvers’ (proxy examinees) were unable to reach the examination centres, where the actual candidates were waiting for them. We had also deployed our own personnel at these locations, and the police force remained on high alert across the entire region. As a result, the solvers failed to gain access to the examination centres.. In connection with this case, three individuals have been apprehended. The primary accused is the second-year MBBS student, identified as Awadhesh Kumar. His accomplice is Aman Kumar Singh. Additionally, a third individual named Pankaj Kumar has been arrested. Furthermore, efforts are underway to identify and locate the mastermind behind this gang. Additionally, the evidence retrieved from their mobile phones is being analysed, and individuals who arrived from various examination centres are being interrogated…,” DSP Singh said.
Former RPSC official denies any NEET link
Meanwhile, former acting chairman of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) Shiv Singh Rathore said he had no connection with the NEET-UG probe and that the matter for which he was questioned related to another recruitment examination. Speaking outside the SOG office in Jaipur, Rathore said the issue concerned the School Lecturer Agriculture Science Recruitment Exam-2022. “There is absolutely no connection or involvement with NEET whatsoever. This information pertains to the (School Lecturer) Agriculture Science Recruitment Exam-2022, for which I had been served a notice,” Rathore said. He added that he had cooperated fully with investigating agencies whenever summoned. As the investigation deepens, authorities are examining whether the alleged leak involved a limited circle of high-paying candidates or a larger organised network operating across multiple states.(With inputs from agencies)
