The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday, 13 May produced Shubham Khairnar — arrested in connection with the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak — before the Killa Court in Mumbai, which remanded him to two days of transit custody. The accused is set to be produced before a Delhi court on Thursday as the agency intensifies its nationwide investigation into the examination scandal.

Key Developments in Court

During the hearing, the CBI informed the court that several accomplices linked to the case are yet to be identified and questioned, making custodial interrogation of Khairnar necessary. Accepting the agency's submission, the Killa Court granted the two-day transit custody request without objection.

Khairnar was detained by the CBI on Tuesday afternoon while he was reportedly on his way to a temple to offer prayers. Investigators said he had altered his appearance by cutting his hair in an attempt to avoid identification and evade arrest. Officials were able to identify him by comparing his latest appearance with older photographs and through technical surveillance inputs gathered during the investigation.

The Accused and His Alleged Role

Shubham Khairnar, a 30-year-old resident of the Indiranagar area in Nashik and a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) student, is suspected of playing a key role in the circulation of the leaked examination paper. The CBI has alleged that he purchased the leaked NEET-UG question paper from a Pune-based accused for ₹10 lakh before distributing it further at a profit — reportedly selling it to a buyer in Haryana for ₹15 lakh, earning a profit of ₹5 lakh in the process.

How the Leak Spread

The controversy first surfaced in Maharashtra's Nashik, where an initial digital copy of the leaked question paper allegedly appeared before spreading rapidly to other states. The leaked paper is believed to have circulated across Maharashtra, Haryana's Gurugram, Rajasthan's Jaipur and Sikar, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, and Kerala, raising serious concerns over the credibility and security of one of India's most high-stakes entrance examinations.

NEET-UG 2026 Cancelled for 22 Lakh Candidates

The development follows the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelling the NEET-UG 2026 examination — conducted on 3 May for more than 22 lakh candidates across the country — after allegations emerged that the question paper had been leaked prior to the exam. The cancellation has thrown the medical admissions cycle into uncertainty for millions of aspirants.

What Investigators Are Doing Next

The CBI is continuing its probe to identify the full network involved in the alleged paper leak and determine the extent of the conspiracy. Several accomplices remain unidentified, and custodial interrogation of Khairnar is expected to yield fresh leads. The agency's next steps will likely come into sharper focus after Thursday's hearing before the Delhi court.