CBI to file chargesheet in NEET-UG 2026 paper leak probe within week

The CBI's investigation into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak has identified a network of 13 individuals allegedly involved in the breach, according to sources familiar with the probe. The agency is preparing to file its final chargesheet within the coming week, bringing the investigation closer to the criminal prosecution phase.

Among those identified are National Testing Agency-appointed subject experts, operators of coaching centres, intermediaries, and examination candidates themselves. The multi-layered involvement suggests a coordinated effort to access and distribute the secure question paper prior to the examination.

The investigation has traced the alleged circulation of the examination material through various channels, with middlemen reportedly playing a crucial role in connecting different elements of the suspected conspiracy. Coaching centre operators are alleged to have benefited from advance access to the paper, potentially offering unfair advantages to their students.

The filing of the chargesheet will mark a significant milestone in the case, which has drawn considerable attention given the critical nature of NEET-UG as the gateway examination for medical education in India. The CBI's identification of specific roles played by different categories of suspects indicates a thorough probe into how the security breach occurred and who orchestrated it.

Once the chargesheet is filed, the matter will proceed to judicial scrutiny, with the accused facing potential charges under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Cheating at Examination Act.