The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has officially taken over the investigation into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, following the formal handover of a key suspect by the Nashik Police. The case, which led to the nationwide cancellation of the exam on May 12, 2026, is now being treated as a coordinated multi-state criminal operation.

The Nashik Connection

The suspect, a 30-year-old medical student identified as Shubham Khairnar, was apprehended after local intelligence traced a digital trail of a “guess paper” that perfectly matched 120 questions from the official exam. Investigations reveal that the paper was allegedly procured in Pune and sold for approximately ₹15 lakh to candidates across state lines, including Haryana and Rajasthan.

Impact and Re-examination

With the May 3 exam declared void, the NTA has confirmed a mandatory re-test for 23 lakh students. While the CBI focuses on a “shadow server” used to bypass AI monitoring, the Education Ministry has waived all additional fees for the upcoming re-exam. Students are advised to monitor official channels for the revised schedule, expected within the next 45 days.