NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak: How NTA Experts Allegedly Memorised and Smuggled Out Questions
New Delhi: The CBI has detailed an alleged paper-leak operation involving three subject experts who were part of the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) question-setting process for NEET-UG 2026.
According to the 94-page chargesheet accessed by NDTV, the accused allegedly used a simple but effective method to take confidential questions out of the NTA’s secure premises. Some questions were reportedly memorised, while others were written on small slips of paper. The experts also allegedly marked the relevant chapters and paragraphs in NCERT books to help pass the information to students.
The three subject experts named as the alleged primary sources of the leak are PV Kulkarni, a chemistry expert, and Manisha Mandhare and Manisha Havaldar, who were associated with botany and physics respectively. They are among 13 people arrested and chargesheeted in the case.
How the alleged leak happened
The CBI alleges that the experts had access to confidential sections while preparing, moderating and translating different sets of questions. During this process, they allegedly copied selected questions onto chits or memorised easier ones.
Investigators say the information was subsequently passed to students through intermediaries and coaching networks. In some cases, students were allegedly instructed to handwrite the leaked questions during private coaching sessions. The CBI says some of these handwritten notes were later recovered during searches.
For questions that were easier to remember, the accused allegedly relied on memory and wrote them down later in their hotel rooms, according to the chargesheet.
The CBI has also pointed to gaps in security at the NTA facility. The chargesheet says there was allegedly no routine frisking of experts when they entered or left the confidential section. It cites the example of Kulkarni, who allegedly worked on the back-translation of three question sets containing 135 questions over three days between March 31 and April 2, 2026.
Alleged financial motive
According to investigators, the alleged leak was driven not only by financial gain but also by an attempt to improve the performance and success rates of certain coaching classes linked to those involved.
The chargesheet names 13 accused, including the three subject experts, coaching-related individuals, middlemen and candidates who allegedly benefited from the leaked material.
The CBI has alleged offences including criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust and destruction of evidence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Charges have also been filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
Extensive investigation
The CBI said it registered the FIR on May 12 and deployed multiple investigation teams involving 72 officers and personnel, along with eight cyber-forensic experts.
Searches were carried out at 92 locations across Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi and other states. Investigators seized electronic devices, documents and other material that they considered relevant to the case.
The agency said it examined the money trail and froze several bank accounts, lockers and a demat account belonging to the accused.
The chargesheet reportedly cites 360 witnesses, 422 documents and 43 material objects. The wider collection of documents, including annexures and related papers, runs into around 20,000 pages and has been submitted before Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court.
All 13 people named in the chargesheet are currently in judicial custody.
The allegations made by the CBI are part of the chargesheet and will be subject to judicial scrutiny as the case proceeds in court.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
