NEET-UG 2026 paper leak: CBI arrests 7, raids 14 locations
Synopsis
The CBI's NEET-UG 2026 paper leak probe has widened dramatically — seven arrests across Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Haryana in just two days, with searches at 14 locations and more suspects under questioning. For a country already shaken by last year's NEET controversy, this is a crisis of confidence in the examination system that shows no sign of slowing down.
Key Takeaways
The CBI has arrested seven people in total in the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case as of 14 May 2026 .
Two new accused — Dhananjay Lokhanda (Ahilyanagar) and Manisha Waghmare (Pune) — were arrested during searches at 14 locations across India.
Earlier five accused were arrested from Jaipur , Gurugram , and Nashik ; all five sent to 7-day CBI custody by Rouse Avenue Court .
The CBI registered the case on 12 May 2026 on a complaint by the Department of Higher Education .
Several other suspects are under questioning; further arrests are expected as the probe continues.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two more accused in the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, raising the total number of persons held to seven, officials confirmed on Thursday, 14 May 2026. The arrests follow a sweeping 24-hour operation involving searches at 14 locations across the country.
Who Was Arrested
The two newly detained individuals have been identified as Dhananjay Lokhanda, a resident of Ahilyanagar, and Manisha Waghmare from Pune, both from Maharashtra. Their arrests were made during coordinated searches conducted by multiple special CBI teams as part of the ongoing probe into alleged examination malpractice.
Earlier Arrests and Court Custody
Prior to Thursday's arrests, the CBI had already detained five accused from different parts of the country — three from Jaipur, one from Gurugram, and one from Nashik. The Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi has since remanded those five to seven days of CBI custody for further interrogation.
How the Case Began
The CBI registered the case on 12 May 2026 following a formal complaint by the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education, which alleged that the NEET-UG 2026 examination paper had been leaked ahead of the test. Multiple special teams were immediately deployed to trace the network allegedly behind the leak and any related irregularities.
Scope of the Investigation
According to officials, several other suspects are currently being questioned and further action is underway based on evidence gathered so far. The CBI has stated it is pursuing all available leads to uncover the full extent of the alleged racket and identify every individual connected to the conspiracy. Notably, this is the second consecutive year that NEET-UG has been embroiled in a major paper leak controversy, deepening public concern over the integrity of one of India's most high-stakes entrance examinations.
What Happens Next
The agency reiterated its commitment to a comprehensive, impartial, and professional investigation. With arrests spanning Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Haryana, the probe suggests a multi-state network. Further arrests are likely as investigators follow leads from evidence gathered during the nationwide raids.
Point of View
Spanning three states — points to a pre-organised, multi-city network rather than isolated opportunism. What is striking is that the complaint originated from within the Ministry of Education itself, suggesting the breach was detected internally, not through whistleblowers or media. India has now seen NEET embroiled in serious paper leak allegations in back-to-back cycles, yet structural reforms to examination security — tamper-proof delivery, biometric verification, decentralised question sets — remain incomplete. The real accountability question is not just who leaked the paper, but how the leak became possible in the first place.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people has the CBI arrested in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case?
The CBI has arrested seven people in total as of 14 May 2026. Two were arrested on Thursday — Dhananjay Lokhanda from Ahilyanagar and Manisha Waghmare from Pune — while five had been detained earlier from Jaipur, Gurugram, and Nashik.
When did the CBI register the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case?
The CBI registered the case on 12 May 2026, following a formal complaint by the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education alleging that the NEET-UG 2026 examination paper had been leaked.
What did the Rouse Avenue Court order in the NEET paper leak case?
The Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi sent the five accused arrested earlier in the case to seven days of CBI custody for further questioning.
How wide is the CBI's search operation in the NEET-UG 2026 case?
The CBI has conducted searches at 14 locations across the country over a 24-hour period, with multiple special teams carrying out coordinated raids since 12 May 2026. Several suspects beyond those arrested are currently being questioned.
Is this the first time NEET-UG has faced a paper leak controversy?
No. The NEET-UG examination has faced serious paper leak allegations in consecutive cycles, raising broader concerns about the integrity of India's medical entrance examination system and the adequacy of existing security protocols.
