CBI Widens NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak Probe, Eyes New Suspects

Educational consultancy operator Shubham Khairnar, suspended junior college teacher Manisha Mandhare, beauty parlour owner Manisha Waghmare and a Latur-based paediatrician moved centre stage Thursday as CBI widened its NEET-UG 2026 paper leak probe, chasing money trails, digital footprints and a growing list of suspected beneficiaries. CBI brought Khairnar to Pune for questioning while Mandhare and Waghmare faced fresh interrogation over alleged roles in leaking and circulating question papers before the medical entrance exam on May 3. National Testing Agency told a parliamentary panel it was of the view that the paper wasn’t compromised through its system but added that CBI will offer a conclusive finding. Over 22 lakh students wrote NEET-UG, which NTA cancelled on May 12 following allegations of widespread malpractice and paper leak.

CBI probes role of paediatrician who got leaked paper for child

CBI is also examining the role of a paediatrician from Latur, suspected of procuring leaked paper for his child through a retired chemistry lecturer, Prahlad Vithalrao Kulkarni of Latur, whom investigators described as source of the leak. “We are questioning him to establish his involvement,” a CBI official said. Investigators suspect several parents, including medical practitioners, paid hefty sums to access the question paper in advance. Multiple families across districts have been questioned, while some suspects remain under surveillance. Khairnar operated an educational consultancy guiding aspirants preparing for MBBS, BDS, BHMS and other medical entrance exams. CBI is probing his links with a Pune-based accused arrested earlier and whether he acted as a conduit between aspirants and the leak network. Mandhare, attached to Pune’s Modern College and associated with NTA, is being questioned with neighbour Waghmare over how leaked papers were sourced, disseminated and routed to candidates. Sources said CBI is focusing on financial transactions, digital communication records and chain of intermediaries .