NEET UG 2026 Cancelled Highlights: CBI arrests 2 more accused, raids 14 locations

The political row over NEET UG 2026 has intensified, with opposition parties questioning the credibility of the National Testing Agency after the cancellation of the medical entrance examination. Several leaders have demanded accountability and structural reforms in the examination system.

Amid growing concerns over the credibility of the National Testing Agency after the NEET UG 2026 controversy, fresh calls have emerged for a complete overhaul of how high-stakes examinations are conducted in India.

"The issue goes beyond operational failures and points towards the need for a technology-first, transparent, and accountable examination ecosystem.” says Saurabh Mangrulkar, Founder and CEO of Eventbeep.

Rajasthan Police’s Special Operations Group has questioned multiple suspects linked to the alleged circulation of a “guess paper” that reportedly matched a large portion of the NEET UG 2026 exam.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has urged the Centre to abolish NEET-based admissions and allow states to admit medical students based on Class 12 marks. The statement comes amid the nationwide uproar over the NEET cancellation row.

The NEET UG 2026 paper leak probe is widening, with the CBI arresting two more accused in the last 24 hours and conducting searches at 14 locations across the country.

Those arrested include Dhananjay Lokhande from Ahilyanagar and Manisha Waghmare from Pune, taking the total number of arrests in the case to seven so far. Earlier, five accused were picked up from Jaipur, Gurugram and Nashik.

The case was registered on May 12 based on a complaint by the Department of Higher Education over alleged exam irregularities. Officials said several suspects are still being questioned, and more action is likely as the CBI continues to track the network behind the leak.

The NEET UG 2026 cancellation is now hitting students where it hurts most -- their finances. As lakhs prepare again, the re-exam has triggered a fresh wave of expenses on hostels, food, rent and transport, especially for those studying away from home.

Many students who had left cities like Bhopal after the May 3 exam are now returning under pressure. But with hostel rooms already re-allotted, several are being forced to take expensive flats or PGs.

Kartika from Sagar had to rent a Rs 15,000 flat after losing her hostel room, adding daily travel and food costs. Priya from Khandwa, whose family took loans for her preparation, now faces another month of expenses that feel overwhelming.

Coaching centres say academic preparation remains intact, but admit the real burden is living costs. For many families, re-NEET is no longer just another exam -- it’s a financial setback they weren’t prepared for.

Yogesh Singh has backed the government’s decision to cancel NEET UG 2026 and arrest accused in the paper leak case, calling the steps necessary.

He warned that high-stakes exams have led to the rise of an “exam mafia”, similar to organised crime networks.

Singh urged student groups and political parties not to politicise the issue, saying it concerns students’ futures.

He also said scrapping the NTA is not a solution, stressing instead on stronger coordination between authorities, police and students to prevent future leaks.

The protest adds to growing nationwide pressure on agencies as the CBI probe NEET paper leak continues and students await clarity on the NEET UG 2026 re-exam date.

The NEET UG 2026 crisis has taken a heartbreaking turn, with a 21-year-old aspirant in Lakhimpur Kheri dying by suicide after the exam cancellation and ongoing paper leak controversy.

Hrithik Mishra, who was appearing for his third attempt, was found hanging in his room. His family says he was confident of scoring well this time and securing a seat, but was deeply disturbed after the exam was scrapped and talks of a re-exam began.

His father said Hrithik had been hopeful just days earlier, but the sudden uncertainty around the NEET paper leak 2026 and re-exam discussions left him mentally exhausted. A close friend also admitted that the situation had pushed many students into distress, with some even having similar thoughts.

This incident follows the news of another NEET aspirant dying by suicide on Tuesday night in Goa, with police probing whether exam stress and the NEET UG 2026 cancellation had any link to the case.

Today's incident has once again brought focus on the emotional toll of the NEET exam cancellation news today, especially on repeat aspirants who invest years into preparation.

Political reactions have also followed. Arvind Kejriwal has tweeted about the Goa student suicide case, linking it to the larger NEET controversy and questioning the system’s handling of student futures.

As the CBI probe NEET paper leak continues and lakhs await clarity on the NEET UG 2026 re-exam date, this tragedy underlines a harsh reality: beyond investigations and reforms, the human cost of exam uncertainty is becoming impossible to ignore.

As the NEET UG 2026 controversy unfolds, attention has shifted back to the 2024 paper leak case, raising a key question -- did investigators ever uncover the full network behind the scam?

The 2024 probe by the CBI exposed a complex chain involving school officials, middlemen, transporters and "solver" students. The leak was traced to a school in Hazaribagh, where accused allegedly accessed sealed question papers, photographed them, and circulated answers to selected candidates.

Over time, around 45 accused were chargesheeted and over 140 beneficiaries identified. Yet, doubts remain about whether the top-level operators were ever caught.

Experts say such rackets are rarely run by small players alone, pointing instead to deeper financial and organised networks.

While the CBI maintains that the investigation is still open, recurring exam controversies have only intensified concerns around whether the real masterminds behind such leaks are ever fully exposed.

The NEET UG 2026 paper leak row has taken a political turn, with AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal launching a sharp attack on the Centre and urging young people to speak up.

In a video message, Kejriwal called on Gen Z to "wake up, rise and fight" against what he described as injustice in the exam system. He claimed that since 2014, dozens of paper leaks have taken place, impacting the future of crores of students across the country.

He also questioned the credibility of the ongoing investigation, calling it an "eyewash" and alleging that those arrested in such cases often go free later.

Referring to youth-led movements in countries like Nepal and Bangladesh, he said young people in India should also demand accountability.

Other AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia, echoed similar concerns, warning that student anger could turn into a larger movement if justice is not delivered.

The remarks come amid growing protests and legal challenges following the cancellation of NEET UG 2026, which affected over 22 lakh aspirants.

The NEET UG 2026 paper leak investigation has revealed fresh details, with Manisha Waghmare now suspected to be a key "middle link" in the alleged network.

According to police sources, Waghmare, a Pune-based beautician who also ran an admission consultancy, allegedly connected students to main accused Dhananjay Lokhande. Investigators have recovered Telegram chats and WhatsApp call records indicating active contact between them.

A major development is the money trail -- lakhs of rupees were deposited into 21 bank accounts linked to Waghmare during the exam period. Officials suspect these could be advance payments for question papers.

Meanwhile, Omkar Shingote, an Ayurvedic doctor from Junnar, has also been detained. He is believed to have worked with Lokhande in facilitating admissions.

The CBI is now tracking financial flows and digital evidence to map the full network.

The NEET UG 2026 paper leak investigation took a turn with the detention of Manisha Waghmare from Pune on Wednesday afternoon. A joint team of the CBI and Pune Crime Branch picked her up from the Sukhsagar Nagar area as part of the ongoing probe.

According to police sources, Waghmare works as a beautician and also ran an admission consultancy, where she allegedly charged around Rs 25,000 to help students secure medical college admissions. It was during this work that she is believed to have come in contact with key accused Dhananjay Lokhande.

Investigators have recovered Telegram chats, WhatsApp call records, and messages between the two, suggesting she was in touch with members of the alleged leak network. Her husband is reportedly a dentist.

Officials are now analysing digital evidence and financial transactions to understand her exact role in the case.

The NEET UG 2026 paper leak investigation is expanding further, with fresh leads pointing to a growing network of contacts and financial transactions.

Sources say a doctor, Omkar Shingote, has been picked up from Junnar. He is reportedly a native of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and is believed to have been in touch with key accused Dhananjay Lokhande.

Investigators are also examining the financial trail linked to Manisha Waghmare. Her bank accounts reportedly show deposits of around Rs 10 lakh coming from 31 different accounts, raising suspicions of coordinated transactions.

Officials say Waghmare was also in contact with Lokhande, strengthening the suspected link between multiple accused in the case.

The CBI is now focusing on digital communication and money flow to map the full extent of the alleged paper leak network.

The NEET UG 2026 paper leak probe is now focusing heavily on the Biwal family from Rajasthan, with multiple members already arrested and taken to Delhi for questioning.

Investigators have found a social media post from November 2025 where Dinesh Biwal congratulated five children in the family for securing MBBS seats in government colleges, raising further suspicion. So far, Mangilal, Dinesh, and Vikas Biwal have been arrested in connection with the case.

Sources say the paper was allegedly bought for Dinesh's minor son, who is currently absconding. He is suspected to have sold the paper in Sikar to students for around Rs 10 lakh each. The Rajasthan SOG has reportedly shared a list of nearly 150 such students with the CBI.

Meanwhile, another accused linked to the network claimed he purchased the paper through family connections and circulated "guess papers" via Telegram groups with hundreds of students.

All accused are being produced in a Delhi court as the probe expands.

The NEET UG 2026 paper leak probe reached Bihar's Nalanda on Wednesday evening, where intelligence officials and local police carried out a raid at a medical college hostel linked to an alleged "solver gang" mastermind.

The raid targeted the room of Ujjwal Kumar, also known as Raja Babu, who is currently absconding. Officials searched Boy's Hostel room 502, while another room belonging to a 2024 batch student was opened by breaking the lock.

So far, seven people, including a student named Avdhesh Kumar, have been arrested in connection with the case. Authorities remained tight-lipped during the operation, but the raid reportedly caused panic among students on campus.

Searches are ongoing to track down the mastermind.

The NEET UG 2026 paper leak has once again put the spotlight on earlier warnings about the National Testing Agency (NTA). A 2025 Parliamentary Standing Committee report had flagged serious concerns, saying the agency's performance "did not inspire confidence" and urging urgent reforms.

The committee had recommended stricter exam security, blacklisting dubious firms, and stronger oversight. A 2024 expert panel had also suggested encrypted question papers and printing at exam centres to prevent leaks.

Six months later, with NEET cancelled and a CBI probe underway, these ignored recommendations are now back in focus.

Fresh details are emerging in the NEET UG 2026 paper leak case, with investigators piecing together how the five arrested accused may have operated as part of a wider network.

Sources indicate that Mangilal Biwal and Dinesh Biwal are brothers, while Vikas Biwal is Dinesh's son and a NEET aspirant based in Sikar. Investigators believe Dinesh allegedly purchased the question paper around April 26-27 for nearly Rs 30 lakh, though this claim is still under verification.

The paper was reportedly procured to benefit a family member preparing for the exam. Officials suspect that the same paper was later circulated in soft-copy form and sold to other students in Sikar, pointing to a possible local distribution network.

The probe has also found that four members of the Biwal family have cleared NEET in recent years, raising further questions about possible patterns.

In the wider chain, Shubham Khairnar is believed to have sourced the "guess paper" from Pune, which was then passed on to Gurugram-based Yash Yadav.

The CBI is now examining digital trails, financial transactions and communication records to establish how far the network spread and who else may be involved.

The Central Bureau of Investigation has taken over the NEET UG 2026 paper leak investigation after the National Testing Agency cancelled the examination amid allegations of question paper compromise. Over 22 lakh candidates are now awaiting fresh exam dates.