Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested two more accused persons and conducted searches at 14 locations across the country in the last 24 hours in connection with alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.The two accused arrested are Dhananjay Lokhanda from Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra, and Manisha Waghmare from Pune, Maharashtra. The total number of arrests in the case has now risen to seven.The CBI had registered a case on May 12 based on a written complaint from the Department of Higher Education in the Ministry of Education regarding alleged irregularities and paper leak in the conduct of the NEET-UG 2026 examination on May 3.The FIR was registered for offences including criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, theft and destruction of evidence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and offences under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.So far, the CBI has arrested seven accused persons in the case — three from Jaipur, one from Gurugram, one from Nashik, and the two latest from Pune and Ahilyanagar. Several other suspects are currently under interrogation.The agency has also carried out searches at multiple locations across the country. During the searches and arrests, several incriminating materials and electronic devices, including mobile phones, have been seized.The CBI is coordinating with the Rajasthan Special Operations Group, which had conducted a preliminary enquiry in the case, and is pursuing all leads through extensive technical and forensic analysis.
NTA cancels exam, re-test to be held
On Tuesday, the Centre cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 amid allegations of paper leak and announced that the exam will be re-conducted on dates to be notified separately.The NTA said the decision was taken after inputs were examined in coordination with central agencies, and findings shared by law enforcement agencies raised concerns over the integrity of the examination process.The Federation of All India Medical Association has moved to the Supreme Court, challenging the “systemic failure” of the National Testing Agency in conducting the NEET-UG 2026 examination.Students across the nation have protested against the decision to re-conduct the exam. NSUI workers held a protest at Shastri Bhavan in New Delhi, with protesters seen climbing barricades.
