NEET UG 2026 paper leak: CBI to file final chargesheet within a week

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is expected to file its second and final chargesheet in the NEET UG 2026 paper leak case within a week, officials familiar with the investigation have said.

The concluding chargesheet is expected to detail the roles of three additional individuals arrested after the first chargesheet and findings from forensic examinations. A report by Hindustan Times cited CBI officials saying that the investigation did not establish the involvement of any National Testing Agency (NTA) or other central government official in the alleged leak.

CBI had earlier chargesheeted 13 accused

The CBI filed its first chargesheet on July 28 against 13 accused in the case. The accused included three NTA-appointed subject experts, coaching centre operators, intermediaries and other individuals.

The agency had kept its investigation open to examine the role of other alleged conspirators and to incorporate findings from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, the Government Examiner of Questioned Documents and Delhi University experts.

According to the CBI's first chargesheet, the agency relied on 360 witnesses, 422 documents and 43 material objects. It invoked provisions relating to criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust and destruction of evidence, along with provisions under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

What the CBI investigation found

The CBI has alleged that the NEET UG 2026 question paper was compromised before the examination and traced the alleged chain from NTA-appointed subject experts to coaching operators, intermediaries and beneficiary candidates.

The agency's investigation found that one of the NTA-appointed experts allegedly transcribed 135 Chemistry questions and took them out of the confidential area.

The CBI has also alleged that two other experts memorised questions and later reconstructed them using textbooks. These allegations form part of the agency's case and will be considered during the judicial proceedings.

The CBI had earlier told a Delhi court that 111 of 136 handwritten Chemistry questions recovered from the phone of Latur coaching centre owner Shivraj Motegaonkar matched questions in the NTA's master question sets. The agency said the images containing the questions were captured on April 23, 2026, ahead of the May 3 examination.

NEET UG 2026 was cancelled and held again

The NEET UG 2026 examination was conducted by the NTA on May 3. Following complaints about the unauthorised circulation of examination material, the CBI registered a case on May 12 on a written complaint from the Ministry of Education. The agency was tasked with determining the nature and extent of the alleged irregularities and identifying those involved.

The NTA subsequently cancelled the examination, and a re-examination was conducted on June 21. More than 22.7 lakh candidates had appeared for the original examination.

The final chargesheet is expected to incorporate the findings from the continuing investigation and bring the CBI's probe into the alleged NEET UG 2026 paper leak to a close.