In a major development in the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, a 30-year-old Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) student from Maharashtra’s Nashik has been arrested for his suspected role in the scandal. The accused, identified as Shubham Khairnar, was apprehended by the Nashik Crime Branch following intelligence shared by the Rajasthan Police.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has now taken him into formal custody as part of the expanding investigation into the nationwide examination leak network.
Who Is Shubham Khairnar?
According to investigators, Shubham Khairnar lived with his family in Nashik’s Indiranagar area and originally hailed from Nandgaon taluka in the district.
Police reportedly detained him around midday on Tuesday while he was on his way to a temple. Officials claimed Khairnar had attempted to avoid identification by changing his appearance and cutting his hair. However, investigators were able to trace him using technical surveillance and older photographs.
Alleged Rs 10 Lakh Deal For ‘Guess Paper’
Investigators allege that Khairnar purchased a so-called “guess paper” for Rs 10 lakh from a Pune-based suspect and later sold it to a buyer in Haryana for Rs 15 lakh, earning a profit of Rs 5 lakh.
According to reports, the transaction and sharing of the material were carried out through encrypted messaging applications to avoid detection.
Sources quoted in reports also claimed that the leaked NEET papers were not scanned using mobile phones. Instead, high-definition portable scanners were allegedly used to digitise the documents before they were distributed through platforms such as Telegram and WhatsApp.
Mastermind, Distribution Network Under Investigation
Investigators have identified Manish Yadav as the suspected mastermind behind the operation, while Rakesh Mandawariya is believed to have handled distribution of the leaked paper.
Both were reportedly detained by the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG), with Manish Yadav being taken into custody from Jaipur.
So far, police have arrested 15 people in connection with the case.
A senior Rajasthan SOG official said investigators suspect the paper may have been leaked from a printing press in Nashik. Authorities believe the racket could involve a highly organised interstate network of paper solvers, middlemen and impersonators.
WhatsApp Group ‘Private Mafia’ Under Scanner
According to investigators, the probe uncovered a WhatsApp group named “Private Mafia” where the alleged guess paper was circulated among paid members.
Officials claimed access to the material reportedly ranged from Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000. While some students allegedly purchased the document, others are believed to have forwarded it further free of cost.
The Rajasthan SOG reportedly suspects the network spread across Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Bihar, Kerala and Uttarakhand, involving nearly 45 individuals.
‘Guess Paper’ Matched 120 Questions: Reports
Reports suggest the handwritten “guess paper” allegedly matched around 120 out of 150 questions in the biology and chemistry sections of the original NEET-UG 2026 exam paper.
The document reportedly contained nearly 410 questions with answers and was allegedly circulated through coaching centres and paying guest accommodations housing NEET aspirants.
Investigators also suspect hard copies were transported from Nashik to Haryana before being duplicated and distributed further.
In Rajasthan’s Sikar, police questioned a coaching centre counsellor who allegedly paid Rs 5 lakh for the material and then shared it with aspirants through WhatsApp.
NEET-UG 2026 Cancelled, CBI Probe Underway
Following the controversy, the National Testing Agency cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination, which had been conducted on May 3 for over 22 lakh students across the country.
The Centre subsequently ordered a CBI investigation into the alleged paper leak. The probe is currently ongoing, with agencies continuing to investigate the scale of the network and the possible involvement of additional suspects.