NEET 2026 paper leak: MBBS student's social media post, chat screenshots, beautician arrest, CBI raids expose racket

Mumbai: What initially appeared to be just another social media allegation on the day of the NEET UG 2026 examination soon turned into a nationwide controversy after an MBBS student shared screenshots and chat records allegedly exposing a paper leak network operating a day before the exam.

The alleged leak first came to light on May 3, the day NEET-UG was conducted, when a Maharashtra-based MBBS student made a  post on Instagram warning that the question paper had already been leaked.

“Very unfortunately, I’m saying & declared that... Today’s neet 2k26 paper is already leaked... Mass leak of paper. Mark my words, shame of the education system of India,” he wrote on Instagram.

The student, who is also the founder of a mentorship platform, shared with NDTV several screenshots and screen recordings of WhatsApp, Telegram and Instagram chats that allegedly show how the question paper was circulated among selected students before the examination.

He said that some students who appeared for NEET-UG at an exam centre in Maharashtra’s Latur approached him with evidence that the paper had been leaked in advance.

The content of the messages in the mobile apps indicated the question paper had been sent to a select few students before the highly competitive exam for admissions into medical colleges.

Commenting on this, he told NDTV, "The chats clearly exposed a digital network that compromised the examination by selling and delivering the question paper to some students beforehand."

One of the screen recordings reportedly showed a WhatsApp group chat where a user named "Private Mafia" shared a password-protected PDF file titled "Neet Leaked Qus Paper 2026."

In the chat, another user, believed to be a student, allegedly asked for help, following which the admin responded by asking users to solve the paper, claiming there was a "99.99%" chance it would appear in the May 3 examination.

"Solve this paper, which I posted, has a chance 99.99% to come on the 3rd May exam. And dont msg in my inbox if you have any doubt, tell in this group," the admin said. 

The suspected leaked paper provider then opened the password-protected PDF file and scrolled through the pages. Between the pages, a message was seen embedded. It said, "Never forget to contact - **** mafia to get upcoming gov exam papers. Face To Face Deal Available... Do not pay anyone for papers, do a face-to-face deal for more secure."

Interestingly, the date in the WhatsApp chat window allegedly showed the conversation happened on May 2, a day before the NEET-UG.

Another screenshot allegedly showed an Instagram account messaging a user claiming that the NEET paper had already been obtained and was being resold to earn money back.

Several other screenshots reportedly indicated negotiations over money for accessing the paper. In one of them, the 'booking amount' is cited at Rs 30,000. After the exam, the person who took the paper has to pay Rs 70,000 more. The conversation then goes like this: the paper would be made available on May 1 night at 11 pm in a closed WhatsApp group; if the paper turns out different, then those who bought the paper can also seek a refund.

NDTV reported that a Telegram channel called 'Rare Panel' was seen in a screenshot telling a user to join the channel for any queries on how to get the NEET-UG paper. "Money will not waste, bcz I have my own tg channel. Just join it amd get all quez there. It has 6.1k subscribers," 'Rare Panel' wrote to the user.

After the paper was sold to several candidates, the paper 'mafia' thanked those who brought the leaked paper with a handwritten message, "Thanks for purchasing Neet UG 2026 question paper. Hope this paper will help you to carry good marks in the NEET 2026 exam, and you will get a government medical college."

Medical Dialogues recently reported that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested a Pune-based chemistry professor from Latur, alleged to be the kingpin of the NEET UG 2026 paper leak racket. He was allegedly associated with the panel responsible for setting NEET question papers for several years. Investigators claimed he used his access to confidential examination material to conduct special coaching sessions at his residence, where students were allegedly given questions, answer options and correct responses that later “exactly matched” the actual NEET-UG 2026 question paper held on May 3.

During his interrogation, the agency gained knowledge of the involvement of a biology lecturer who was part of the National Testing Agency's (NTA) paper-setting committee for the exam held on May 3 and accordingly arrested her. 

She was allegedly involved in the NEET examination process and was appointed by the NTA as an expert. Officials said she had complete access to the Botany and Zoology question papers. She is alleged to have mobilised prospective NEET examination candidates in April 2026 through the accused professor and conducted special coaching classes for these students at her Pune residence.

It has been alleged that the accused dictated leaked questions and responses to select students and took lakhs of rupees as fees. Most of these questions tallied with the questions that appeared in the examination on May 3.

Beautician arrested

The CBI has also arrested 46-year-old Pune based beautician was arrested for allegedly identifying students willing to buy the leaked NEET paper and helping connect them with NTA insiders.

According to PTI sources, she allegedly connected students searching for tuition teachers with educators from reputed schools and later used those contacts to circulate the leaked examination paper, which eventually led to the cancellation of the exam.

She runs a beauty parlour in Pune’s Sukhsagar Nagar area. She was arrested on May 14 along with retired chemistry teacher. Both were sent to 10 days of CBI custody beginning May 16.

Investigators told the court that she had access to the paper from at least April 27 almost a week before the exam in alleged connivance with other accused and insiders within the NTA.

Officials now suspect that the operation functioned through three key layers insiders with access to papers, recruiters who connected students and accused, and middlemen who circulated and sold the material.

CBI raids man's house who bought leaked paper for his daughter

As part of the investigation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has raided the residence of a man in Maharashtra’s Nanded who is suspected of purchasing the leaked NEET paper for his daughter.

The CBI conducted an around eight-hour search operation at the house of the man who reportedly paid Rs 5 lakh to obtain the leaked question paper for his daughter ahead of the examination held on May 3.

During the raid, officials examined documents and questioned multiple family members.

Sources told India Today that the investigators were trying to establish when the paper was obtained, who supplied it and how the transaction was arranged. The man was also questioned for several hours at his residence. Investigators also searched the entire flat and reviewed records believed to be linked to the alleged payment.

After the search operation, the man and his family members were reportedly directed to appear before the CBI office in Pune for further questioning.

The agency is tracing a chain connecting Pune, Latur and Nanded, while also examining whether aspirants and parents paid money to access the paper in advance.

Also read- After Pune professor, CBI arrests biology expert from NTA paper-setting panel