The NEET-UG 2026 investigation has expanded across Rajasthan, Haryana and Maharashtra as the CBI probes scanned PDFs, coaching links, cash transactions and medical college connections.
NSUI members stage a protest over the alleged paper leak and cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination, in Jaipur on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has uncovered a Rajasthan connection in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, with investigators suspecting that the leaked question paper was circulated among students in Sikar district after being converted into PDF files, reports said.
The probe has now widened beyond the alleged leak itself and is focusing on the network that handled the paper, the money trail behind the operation, and the role of coaching-linked intermediaries. Investigators are also examining how students were contacted and allegedly charged between ₹2 lakh and ₹5 lakh for access to the question paper ahead of the examination. Officials now suspect that Rajasthan’s coaching hub Sikar may have acted as the operational base of the alleged leak racket.
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According to sources, an accused identified as Yash Yadav allegedly played a role in bringing the leaked paper to Rajasthan. He was reportedly known to the co-accused, Vikas Biwal, with investigators suspecting that the two had studied together at a coaching institute in Sikar, where the alleged network first developed.
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During the investigation, the agency found that Vikas Biwal’s father, Dinesh Biwal, allegedly scanned the hard copy of the NEET-UG paper and converted it into PDF documents before it was circulated further.
Sources said the question paper was first handwritten before being scanned and shared among students associated with coaching centres in Rajasthan’s Sikar district, a major hub for medical entrance coaching.
Investigators are also probing claims that key accused were informed around the Diwali period itself that the NEET paper would be made available this year, suggesting that the alleged network may have been activated months before the examination.
The accused arrested in the case were produced before a magistrate at his residence in Jaipur late on Wednesday night amid heavy security arrangements. The CBI has so far arrested four accused from Jaipur and Haryana: Mangilal Biwal, Dinesh Biwal, Yash Yadav and Vikas Biwal. Following court proceedings, the accused were taken on transit remand and shifted to Delhi for further interrogation.
#WATCH | Jaipur, Rajasthan: NEET UG 2026 paper leak | The accused arrested in connection with the case were produced before a Magistrate at his residence in Jaipur late last night. The investigative agency brought the accused for judicial proceedings amidst tight security. pic.twitter.com/DlyV3yj7qx
— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2026
The CBI has also questioned coaching institute owners and staff members as part of the ongoing investigation. Statements of students and accused persons are currently being recorded.
Several students have reportedly informed investigators that they paid amounts ranging from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh to gain access to the leaked paper, sources added.
Investigators are also verifying financial transactions linked to the suspected network to establish how money moved between the accused and beneficiaries.
Sources further claimed that Yash Yadav himself could not clear the examination and is a graduate in Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medical Sciences (BAMS).
Meanwhile, another accused, Shubham, has denied allegations that he was the mastermind behind the paper leak.
According to investigators, the leaked paper allegedly originated from Maharashtra and moved across multiple states before reaching Rajasthan. Agencies suspect that the paper was first passed from a resident of Ahilyabai Nagar to an accused in Nashik, before allegedly being shared with Yash Yadav in Haryana and later circulated through contacts in Rajasthan.
The CBI is now trying to trace the original source of the leak and reconstruct the chain through which the paper allegedly moved before reaching students preparing for the examination.
The agency is also examining the possible involvement of relatives of the accused who recently cleared NEET and secured admissions in medical colleges. Sources said Sonia, niece of accused Dinesh Biwal, is studying at a medical college in Mumbai, while another relative identified as Palak is also under scrutiny.
Investigators are additionally examining the cases of Prakriti, daughter of Mangilal Biwal and a student at Dausa Medical College, and Vikas, who was allotted a seat at Sawai Madhopur Medical College. The agency is probing whether any admissions may have been influenced through access to leaked examination material.
Meanwhile, Dinesh Biwal’s son Rishi remains absconding. The CBI is also questioning accused Rakesh Mandwariya from Sikar and another accused identified as Prajapat from Jaipur.
A CBI team has now camped in Sikar and is examining people allegedly linked to the network. Several students and parents, earlier detained by the Rajasthan SOG, have also been questioned. While some have been released, they have reportedly been instructed not to leave the city without permission.
In a parallel development, Bihar Police on Wednesday said it had busted a gang allegedly linked to the NEET-UG 2026 leak case.
Rajgir DSP Sunil Kumar Singh said police seized several mobile phones and laptops carrying digital evidence connected to the case.
According to the police, chats recovered from the devices point towards a “money transaction trail” and contain information linked to students from different medical colleges suspected of being part of the syndicate.
“…we have seized mobile phones that have chats on them, and laptops. The chats reveal the money transaction trail. It also has information about students of other medical colleges…we have not found any question paper or guess paper on the phones…” Singh told ANI.
The CBI had registered a case on May 12 after receiving a written complaint from the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education over alleged irregularities in the conduct of NEET-UG 2026.
The Centre later cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination held on May 3 and announced that the medical entrance test would be conducted again on dates to be notified separately.
According to the National Testing Agency (NTA), nearly 22.79 lakh students appeared for the examination this year across more than 5,400 centres in 551 Indian cities and 14 cities abroad.
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