Jaipur: The investigation into the National Eligiblity-cum-Entrance Test (NEET)-UG (Undergraduate) 2026 paper leak case has now been officially handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
A CBI team reached the Special Operations Group (SOG) headquarters in Jaipur during late evening hours on Tuesday.
The Rajasthan SOG officials meanwhile handled over all case-related documents, electronic evidence, and details of the accused arrested so far to the CBI.
The central probe agency has registered an FIR and will now take over the investigation completely.
The CBI has registered a case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, theft, and destruction of evidence.
Charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, have also been added.
According to the complaint filed by the Higher Education Department of the Ministry of Education, the NEET-UG 2026 examination was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 3, 2026.
After the examination, the NTA received multiple complaints and intelligence inputs alleging that confidential exam-related documents had been circulated illegally before the test.
Over the past several days, the SOG carried out continuous raids in Jaipur, Jamwaramgarh, Sikar, and other districts, leading to the arrest of around 15 individuals.
Sources said the accused may be taken to Delhi for detailed questioning regarding the entire exam paper leak network, including the preparation of the so-called “guess paper”, its circulation chain, and distribution among candidates.
Investigations revealed that several students in Sikar and Jhunjhunu allegedly received the “guess paper” two days before the examination.
It is being claimed that more than 120 questions from the leaked material appeared in the actual exam paper.
The SOG investigation began on May 8 after complaints surfaced from Sikar and Jhunjhunu.
According to officials, the paper leak network had created Telegram and WhatsApp groups to circulate the material.
According to the investigation, the “guess paper” was first distributed among students in Sikar on May 1.
It allegedly contained questions worth nearly 600 marks out of the total 720 marks in the NEET examination.
Around 120–140 questions reportedly appeared exactly in the final exam.
The leaked material reportedly included more than 300 questions from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Investigators found that the question bank was allegedly sent by an MBBS student from Churu district, currently studying in Kerala, to a friend in Sikar.
The material later spread through a PG accommodation operator, who shared it with students residing there.
From Sikar, the exam paper reportedly reached students in Jhunjhunu and Churu as well.
After the examination, a PG operator in Sikar lodged a complaint with the police station and the NTA, alleging that several students had received the question bank before the exam.
During the investigation, it emerged that the same PG operator had himself received the question bank on WhatsApp before the exam and had forwarded it to students and career counsellors.
Officials suspect that fearing arrest, he later approached police and the NTA with a complaint.
Meanwhile, several students also independently emailed complaints to the NTA regarding the alleged paper leak.
Following the initial investigation, an SOG team reached Sikar on May 8 and questioned multiple individuals.
Subsequently, three people were arrested.
Many coaching centres are also on radar of officials for investigation, officials said.
(IANS)
