CBI Charges 13 Suspects Following NEET-UG 2026 Examination Breach
The Central Bureau of Investigation has indicted 13 individuals for their alleged roles in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. This legal milestone follows the July 25 resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan amidst widespread protests.
Federal Agency Formalizes Irregularity Charges
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) submitted a formal charge sheet on July 28, 2026, targeting 13 individuals currently held in judicial custody for the NEET-UG paper leak. The legal filing relies on a massive evidentiary base, including 360 witness statements, 422 documents, and 43 material objects. The agency has invoked statutes covering criminal conspiracy, cheating, and destruction of evidence, alongside specific violations of the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Academic Experts and Coaching Heads Implicated
The investigation has snared high-profile figures within the educational sector. Among the primary accused are three National Testing Agency (NTA) subject specialists: P.V. Kulkarni (Chemistry), Manisha Gurunath Mandhare (Biology), and Manisha Sanjay Havaldar (Physics). The CBI also identified Shivaraj Motegaonkar, a professor and owner of the Latur-based RCC Coaching Institute, and Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, the chief operating officer of Pune’s APMA Coaching Institute, as central participants in the illicit network.
The Investigation Timeline and Political Fallout
The probe originated from a May 12 complaint filed by the Department of Higher Education, nine days after the May 3 examination was held and subsequently invalidated. The CBI deployed 72 officers and eight cyber experts who conducted raids across 92 sites in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra. Key forensic milestones included:
- Recovery of digital and communication devices linking leaks to final beneficiaries.
- Handwriting analysis and academic expert testimonies confirming the pre-exam circulation of questions.
- Identification of the distribution chain within weeks of the initial May 13 arrest.
The scandal sparked sustained civil unrest led by the Cockroach Janta Party, culminating in Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan surrendering his post on July 25. While the current charge sheet focuses on the initial 13 suspects, the CBI maintains that further investigation into the broader network is active.
Source: The Hindu — Home
