CBI arrests 5 for NEET exam disruption in India

The CBI has arrested 5 people across India in connection with the NEET exam disruption. This is the first major action after the exam was cancelled.
By Newsroom | Education, Crime |

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) operations have snagged five individuals and initiated searches across the nation concerning the recently disrupted NEET UG examination. This swift move follows the agency's takeover of the investigation on Tuesday, with activity intensifying Wednesday.

NEET paper leak case: CBI arrests five, conducts searches across the country - 1

The arrested individuals, identified as Mangilal Biwal, Vikas Biwal, and Dinesh Biwal from Jaipur, Yash Yadav from Gurugram, and Shubham Khairnar from Nashik, represent the initial public face of this unfolding inquiry. Multiple locations have been subjected to searches, with officials indicating that further arrests are anticipated as the investigation probes deeper into the alleged 'paper leak' and irregularities that led to the examination's cancellation.

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NTA Headquarters Visited

Investigators from the CBI have visited the National Testing Agency (NTA) headquarters. Their purpose: to gather documentation pertinent to the NEET UG examination. Officials have also engaged with personnel involved in the examination's administration. This follows the NTA's own admission that while the entire paper might not have been leaked, the appearance of even a single matching question represented a compromise to the examination's integrity. The agency has stated that a fresh NEET-UG examination will be scheduled.

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Tracing the Leak

Initial investigations suggest a potential origin for the leak from a printing agency in Jaipur, with evidence subsequently pointing towards a coaching institute in Nashik. This trajectory has reportedly spread the purported leak across various states. The FIR itself was registered following a formal complaint from the Department of Higher Education under the Union education ministry.

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Wider Net

The CBI is actively collaborating with the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG), which had previously conducted preliminary inquiries and detained individuals in connection with the case. Evidence collection involves forensic and technical analysis of seized devices. The investigation, formally initiated with an FIR on May 12, 2026, encompasses charges related to criminal conspiracy, cheating, breach of trust, and corruption laws. The involvement of at least two more individuals, Manisha Waghmare and Dhananjay Lokhande, detained in Maharashtra, is also being examined by authorities.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who has been arrested in the NEET exam disruption case?
The CBI has arrested five people: Mangilal Biwal, Vikas Biwal, and Dinesh Biwal from Jaipur, Yash Yadav from Gurugram, and Shubham Khairnar from Nashik. Searches are ongoing across the country.
Q: Why were these people arrested?
They are arrested as part of the investigation into the disruption and alleged paper leak of the NEET UG examination. The exam was cancelled due to these irregularities.
Q: What is the CBI doing now?
The CBI visited the NTA headquarters to collect documents and is questioning staff. They are also working with the Rajasthan SOG and examining evidence from seized devices.
Q: What happens next with the NEET exam?
The NTA has confirmed that a fresh NEET-UG examination will be scheduled. The CBI investigation aims to find all those responsible for the disruption.