In a major development in the controversy over the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) 2026 (NEET-UG), authorities have arrested a suspect from Nashik in Maharashtra in connection with the alleged leak of the NEET question paper ahead of the May 3 examination. This comes after the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the exam amid widespread concerns that a set of leaked questions circulated before the test — a move that affected over 22 lakh candidates across India.
The Nashik Crime Branch initially detained the man — identified as a 30-year-old Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) student living in the Indiranagar area — based on intelligence shared by police in Rajasthan, who were investigating the paper-leak trail. Investigators say he acquired the leaked material for a substantial sum and had forwarded it to contacts outside the city before being tracked down by police.
Following his detention, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has taken over the probe from state police, is now questioning the suspect and examining digital evidence as part of a wider nationwide investigation into the paper-leak network. Law enforcement officials believe this arrest could help them uncover how the leaked examination content was disseminated and identify other individuals involved in the irregularities.
The cancellation and ongoing investigation have sparked widespread dismay and frustration among students and parents preparing for medical admissions. Authorities have said a fresh examination will be scheduled, and the existing online registrations will remain valid without additional charges.
