NEET probe reaches Maha's Latur coaching centre; Nashik man in CBI custody

Nashik Police have detained a suspect in connection with the NEET paper leak, prompting a CBI investigation and cancellation of the NEET (UG) 2024 exam.

Arrest

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points

Nashik Police detain a man in connection with the NEET paper leak following a request from Rajasthan Police.
The National Testing Agency cancelled the NEET (UG) 2024 exam held on May 5th.
The government has asked the CBI to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the irregularities.
A team from Rajasthan Police is expected to take custody of the detained individual.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday evening took into its custody a person from Nashik in Maharashtra in connection with the alleged NEET paper leak, an official said.

Earlier in the day, crime branch unit 2 of the Nashik police detained Shubham Khairnar (30), resident of Nandgaon in the district, following a request from Rajasthan Police.

He was picked up from Indiranagar area of the city, said deputy commissioner of police Kirankumar Chauhan.

The NEET (UG) 2026 exam for admission to undergraduate courses in medical colleges, held on May 3, was cancelled on Tuesday amid allegations of paper leak. The government asked the CBI to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the "irregularities".

Meanwhile, the alleged paper leak may have links extending to Latur in central Maharashtra, where a parent of a student who appeared for the exam lodged a complaint at the superintendent of police's office on Tuesday, a police official said.

According to the complaint, a private coaching institute in Latur reportedly conducted a mock test for its students before the NEET (UG)-2026 examination. Shockingly, as many as 42 questions from the mock test were allegedly found to be identical to those asked in the actual NEET examination, it claimed.

The complaint raised suspicion about the possible involvement of the coaching institute in the wider paper leak network.

Taking serious note of the claims, superintendent of police Amol Tambe directed sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Sameersingh Salve to conduct an immediate inquiry and initiate legal action against those found guilty.

The Latur police appealed to citizens to come forward with any information or evidence related to the NEET paper leak case. People possessing relevant details have been urged to contact SDPO Salve on his mobile number.