The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has uncovered a detailed plot behind the NEET-UG 2026 examination leak, involving National Testing Agency (NTA) experts and a network utilizing WhatsApp and Telegram for distributing confidential question papers. This scheme reportedly unfolded over several months, linking various coaching operators and brokers to aspiring candidates willing to pay for advanced access to the examination material.
The CBI’s chargesheet highlights that the leaked material traversed through numerous intermediaries before reaching those eager to cheat the system. Investigators have employed a combination of evidence sources, including conversations from messaging apps, PDFs, and photographs gathered from seized devices, to construct the alleged pathways of this elaborate operation.
Three subject experts appointed by the NTA have faced serious accusations. According to the CBI, these individuals exploited their privileged access to confidential examination content, enabling the breach to expand well beyond direct transmission of material to candidates.
Instead, the CBI alleges that subject experts transmitted confidential questions to private operators. These were then funneled through various brokers before finally reaching aspiring candidates. This multi-layered distribution strategy facilitated the sharing of examination material, undermining the integrity of the NEET examination process.
The investigation has pinpointed several key figures among the accused, including Shivraj Motegaonkar from Renukai Career Centre, Tejas Harshadkumar Shah associated with the Pune-based Dr Abhang Prabhu Medical Academy, and Dr Manoj Bhagwanrao Shirure, the owner of Siddhivinayak Hospital. These individuals stand accused of being integral players in this widespread operation.
A significant portion of the CBI’s case relies on data recovered from the mobile devices of those involved. In particular, forensic examinations of Yash Yadav’s phone reportedly revealed PDF files containing the leaked NEET-UG 2026 questions. Additionally, investigators found Telegram exchanges linked to a contact saved as ‘AP Broker’, which they later identified as co-accused Shubham Madhukar Khairnar.
The agency claims that these communications occurred prior to the examination, further solidifying the links between the accused and the dissemination of examination materials. Furthermore, another phone seized from accused Manisha Sanjay Waghmare allegedly revealed a WhatsApp group titled ‘NEET 2026’, which further connects members of the alleged cheating network.
The CBI continues to cite various digital communications as essential evidence, illustrating how the accused coordinated their efforts through these messaging platforms. Over the course of the investigation, devices belonging to other suspects also produced revealing chats, photographs, and electronic files.
The CBI highlights that individuals like Manisha Sanjay Waghmare, Dhananjay Lokhande, Shubham Madhukar Khairnar, and Yash Yadav acted as crucial links within this distribution chain, helping transfer the stolen examination questions from insiders to potential test-takers.
By integrating electronic evidence with witness statements, the CBI aims to provide a comprehensive overview of how the examination materials moved through the network. This investigation underscores the agency’s commitment to preserving the integrity of the NEET examination process amid rising concerns over allegations of widespread cheating and the exploitation of systemic vulnerabilities.
