NEET Paper Leak: CBI Probe Extends to Kerala, 10 States Under Scanner
Synopsis
The NEET paper leak has reached Kerala's doorstep, with the CBI now probing students from two districts and a Rajasthan medical student allegedly acting as the local link. The breach reportedly started at a Nashik printing press — not in transit — and a 'model question paper' matching 90 Biology and 35 Chemistry questions was sold for up to ₹2 lakh on Telegram and WhatsApp.
Key Takeaways
The CBI has expanded its NEET paper leak probe to Kerala , targeting students from two districts .
Rajasthan Police handed over details of nearly 200 students believed to have accessed the leaked paper, including Kerala-linked students.
The leak allegedly originated at a printing press in Nashik, Maharashtra , not during paper transportation.
A medical student named Shubham Karniyar is alleged to have sourced the paper from the press and passed it through intermediaries in Haryana and Sikar .
The model paper matched 90 Biology and 35 out of 45 Chemistry questions from the actual exam.
Papers were sold for ₹25,000 to ₹2 lakh via Telegram and WhatsApp across 10 states .
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has widened its probe into the NEET question paper leak to Kerala, with investigators examining the possible involvement of students from two districts in the state. The development marks a significant expansion of what is emerging as one of the largest entrance examination frauds in recent years, with the agency now tracking a network spanning 10 states.
The Kerala Connection
The Kerala angle surfaced after Rajasthan Police handed over details of nearly 200 students believed to have accessed the leaked paper. Among them are students linked to Kerala. Investigators are also probing the role of a medical student from Churu, Rajasthan, currently studying in Kerala, who is suspected of acting as a key link in circulating the paper among aspirants in the state.
According to investigators, a 'model question paper' — allegedly prepared from the leaked original NEET paper — had reached several students in Kerala days before the examination. Preliminary findings indicate that 90 Biology questions and 35 out of 45 Chemistry questions in the model paper matched the actual exam paper.
How the Leak Allegedly Unfolded
Unlike earlier examination scams where leaks occurred during the transportation of question papers, preliminary findings suggest the breach originated directly from the printing press in Nashik, Maharashtra, where this year's NEET paper was printed. Investigators allege that a medical student named Shubham Karniyar secured the original paper from the press and passed it through intermediaries in Haryana, from where it allegedly reached the masterminds operating from Sikar, Rajasthan.
To avoid detection, the original leaked paper was reportedly modified into the form of a model question paper before being circulated across multiple states, including Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar.
The Distribution Network
The papers were allegedly sold through platforms such as Telegram and WhatsApp for amounts ranging from ₹25,000 to ₹2 lakh per copy. Officials describe the operation as a highly organised interstate examination racket with multiple layers of intermediaries designed to obscure the trail.
CBI's Special Investigation Team
The CBI has formed a special investigation team (SIT) and deployed four separate squads to track the network across the 10 states now under scrutiny. The scale of the operation — spanning printing facilities, student networks, digital platforms, and interstate couriers — points to a level of coordination that investigators say is unprecedented in recent entrance exam fraud cases.
As the probe deepens, authorities are expected to issue summons to students identified from the Rajasthan Police list, with further arrests likely in the coming days.
Point of View
Rather than during transit, suggests complicity at the source, which is harder to detect and easier to deny. With 10 states now under the scanner and papers reportedly sold for as little as ₹25,000 on Telegram, the barrier to entry for exam fraud has dropped sharply. The CBI's four-squad SIT is a significant operational response, but the real accountability question — how a national examination's paper left a secured printing facility undetected — remains unanswered.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the CBI probing Kerala in the NEET paper leak case?
The CBI is investigating students from two districts in Kerala after Rajasthan Police shared details of nearly 200 students believed to have accessed the leaked NEET paper. A medical student from Churu, Rajasthan, currently studying in Kerala, is suspected of being a key link in distributing the paper locally.
Where did the NEET paper leak allegedly originate?
Preliminary findings suggest the leak originated at the printing press in Nashik, Maharashtra, where the NEET paper was printed — not during transportation, as seen in earlier exam scams. A medical student named Shubham Karniyar is alleged to have obtained the paper directly from the press.
How was the leaked NEET paper distributed?
The original paper was reportedly modified into a 'model question paper' to avoid suspicion and then circulated across multiple states including Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar. It was sold via Telegram and WhatsApp for amounts ranging from ₹25,000 to ₹2 lakh.
How accurate was the leaked model paper compared to the actual NEET exam?
According to investigators, 90 Biology questions and 35 out of 45 Chemistry questions in the circulated model paper matched the actual NEET examination paper, indicating a high degree of overlap with the original.
How many states are now under the CBI's NEET leak investigation?
The CBI has widened its investigation to 10 states and formed a special investigation team with four separate squads deployed to track the network behind the alleged fraud.
