NEET UG 2026 Paper Leak: CBI to File Final Charge Sheet Within a Week; 13 People Under Probe

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is expected to file its second and final charge sheet in the NEET UG 2026 paper leak case within a week, according to officials familiar with the investigation. The concluding charge sheet is likely to include details of three additional people arrested in connection with the alleged leak, along with findings from forensic examinations.

The development comes after the CBI's investigation into the alleged NEET UG 2026 paper leak, which affected millions of medical aspirants and led to the cancellation of the examination. The agency has reportedly established the alleged involvement of 13 individuals, including NTA-appointed subject experts, coaching centre operators, middlemen and candidates. 

NEET UG 2026 Paper Leak: CBI Probe Update

The CBI is unlikely to name any official from the central government or the National Testing Agency (NTA) in its concluding charge sheet, according to officers cited in the report. The investigation reportedly did not establish the involvement of any NTA or other government official in the alleged leak. 

The agency had filed its first charge sheet on July 28, 2026, naming 13 accused persons. The CBI had kept the investigation open to examine the possible involvement of other conspirators and to obtain expert reports from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Government Examiner of Questioned Documents (GEQD) and Delhi University experts. 

NEET UG 2026 Paper Leak: Three More People Arrested

Following the filing of the first charge sheet, the CBI arrested three more individuals who were allegedly beneficiaries of the paper leak through coaching centres. Their alleged roles, along with the findings of forensic experts, are expected to be detailed in the final charge sheet.

A Rouse Avenue court had recently granted the CBI seven days to file a supplementary charge sheet, with the next hearing scheduled for October 7. 

NEET UG 2026 Exam Cancelled After Paper Leak

The NEET UG 2026 examination was conducted on May 3, 2026. According to the CBI investigation, questions were allegedly accessed during the process of preparing the examination paper.

The National Testing Agency subsequently cancelled the examination after reports of irregularities emerged. The CBI registered a case on May 12 based on a complaint from the Department of Higher Education under provisions relating to criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, theft and destruction of evidence, along with provisions under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

The examination was subsequently conducted again on June 21, 2026.

CBI NEET UG Paper Leak Investigation: What the First Charge Sheet Revealed

The CBI's first charge sheet alleged that some NTA-appointed subject experts had prolonged access to sensitive examination material during the paper-setting process. According to the agency's findings reported by Hindustan Times, one expert allegedly transcribed 135 Chemistry questions and their answer options onto small pieces of paper and removed them from the confidential area. Other experts allegedly memorised questions and reconstructed them using textbooks.

The CBI has invoked provisions related to criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust and destruction of evidence, in addition to provisions under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. The agency has relied on 360 witnesses, 422 documents and 43 material objects in its case. 

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