NEET UG 2026 Paper Leak Probe Expands, Pune Doctor Detained By Investigators

The investigation into the alleged NEET UG 2026 Paper Leak has widened after a Pune-based Ayurvedic doctor was detained by authorities probing the nationwide examination scandal.

What happened

• The NEET UG 2026 exam was cancelled after allegations of a large-scale paper leak

• The:

  Central Bureau of Investigation

  has taken over the case

• Investigators detained:

  Omkar Shingote

  from Maharashtra’s Pune district

Why the doctor was detained

According to investigators:

• Shingote allegedly worked with another accused:

  Dhananjay Lokhande

• The duo is suspected of helping students secure medical admissions
• Agencies are questioning Shingote to uncover wider links connected to the alleged racket

Maharashtra connection

Officials believe the alleged paper leak network may have originated in Pune.

So far in Maharashtra:

• Five accused have been linked to the case
• Arrests and detentions were reported from:
  • Pune
  • Nashik
  • Ahilyanagar

Another accused named:

Manisha Waghmare

was also detained during the probe.

Rajasthan angle

Investigators also traced the alleged leak network to:

Rajasthan

Police claim:

• Hard copies of the question paper were scanned into PDFs
• The papers were allegedly circulated among coaching students in Sikar
• Students reportedly paid between ₹2 lakh and ₹5 lakh for access

Authorities said:

Rakesh Mandwaria

allegedly confessed to purchasing the paper for ₹15 lakh.

Arrests so far

Rajasthan’s:

Special Operations Group

has reportedly arrested 15 people connected to the case, including alleged mastermind:

Manish Yadav

Why it matters

The controversy has triggered one of the biggest credibility crises for India’s medical entrance system because:

• Around 22 lakh students appeared for the exam
• NEET is among India’s most competitive national examinations
• The cancellation has disrupted admission timelines nationwide

What changes

• NEET UG 2026 will now be conducted again
• CBI investigations are expected to expand across multiple states
• Exam security protocols may face major reforms

Who is affected

• NEET aspirants and families
• Medical colleges across India
• Coaching centres under investigation
• National Testing Agency officials and exam administrators

What to watch next

Focus will now shift to:

• Further arrests by the CBI
• The announcement of revised NEET exam dates
• Findings on how the paper leak network operated across states
• Possible reforms to national-level examination security systems.