BackLAW
Nashik medical sciences student detained in NEET paper leak case: Police
A Nashik student, Shubham Khairnar, was detained by Maharashtra police after allegedly obtaining a physical NEET-UG 'guess' paper and forwarding a soft copy to Haryana. The investigation identifies a wider network across multiple states, with the leaked material allegedly circulating via WhatsApp and affecting exam integrity. The case has been handed to the CBI, with ongoing interrogations and follow-up actions.
Why It Matters
The incident raises concerns about nationwide exam security and the integrity of NEET admissions, prompting cross-state investigations and potential reforms in checking paper leaks.
Timeline
9 Events
CBI teams from Delhi expected to visit Rajasthan
May 12, 2026
Two official CBI teams from Delhi were likely to visit Rajasthan in the evening as part of the ongoing investigation.
Printing press leak origin in Nashik suspected
May 12, 2026
SOG officials stated the guess paper leaked from a printing press in Nashik and was used in Haryana or Rajasthan.
Counsellor questioned; ₹5 lakh paid for the guess paper
May 12, 2026
Rajasthan police questioned a Sikar coaching centre counsellor who allegedly paid ₹5 lakh to obtain the guess paper and sold it to NEET aspirants via WhatsApp.
Detention of Shubham Khairnar
May 12, 2026
The Nashik-based student, Shubham Khairnar, was detained by Maharashtra police in connection with the case.
Investigation identifies a broader network and WhatsApp circulation
May 11, 2026
SOG officials said the probe uncovered a network of at least 45 people across Maharashtra, Kerala, Haryana, Bihar, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand who supplied the 'guess' paper to NEET aspirants. They found a WhatsApp group titled ‘Private Mafia’ where the paper circulated among paid members, with payments ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹30,000.
SOG hands over investigation to CBI
May 11, 2026
On Monday, May 11, 2026, the Maharashtra Special Operation Group (SOG) handed over the NEET paper-leak investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
NEET-UG exam held on May 3; handwritten guess paper pattern noted
May 3, 2026
NEET-UG exam took place on May 3. The hand-written 'guess' paper reportedly matched about 120 of the 150 biology and chemistry questions from the original paper and contained 410 questions with answers; the paper was circulated to coaching centres and NEET aspirants via a support network.
Physical copy obtained in Nashik; soft copy forwarded to Haryana
April 2026
A Nashik-based student, Shubham Khairnar, allegedly obtained a physical copy of the NEET-UG 'guess' paper in Nashik a few days before the May 3 exam and forwarded a soft copy to a person in Haryana.
Background: ED raid in 2023 linked to REET 2021 case
2023
The Enforcement Directorate conducted a raid in 2023 at an accountant’s office in a prominent coaching centre in Sikar related to the Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers (REET), 2021; the academy remains under scrutiny in this case.