The National Testing Agency faces intense scrutiny as 22 lakh medical aspirants are left in limbo following the scrap of the May 3 entrance test.
NEW DELHI — The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested five individuals in connection with the alleged paper leak of the NEET-UG 2026 examination. The crackdown follows the abrupt cancellation of the medical entrance exam by the National Testing Agency (NTA), a move that has sparked widespread outrage and intensified demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Coordinated Raids and Arrests
The CBI conducted synchronized searches across multiple cities, leading to the arrest of three suspects from Jaipur—identified as Mangilal Biwal, Vikas Biwal, and Dinesh Biwal—along with Yash Yadav from Gurugram and Shubham Khairnar from Nashik.
The investigation has uncovered a sophisticated network involving the unauthorized digital duplication of question papers. Sources indicate that a courier staffer in Nashik allegedly provided 30 minutes of access to secured examination trunks, allowing the papers to be scanned and distributed via messaging applications just hours before the exam.
Political Storm and Allegations
The arrests have quickly taken a political turn. The Congress party and the All India Trinamool Congress have alleged that some of the accused have links to the BJP, citing social media images of Dinesh Biwal with party leaders in Rajasthan. While the BJP has denied these connections, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot questioned the state government’s delay in filing an initial FIR.
In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay reiterated the state’s firm opposition to the centralized exam, calling it a “scam” that disadvantages rural and economically weaker students. He urged the Centre to allow states to admit medical students based on Class 12 marks to prevent such systemic failures.
Impact on Students and Next Steps
The cancellation has thrown the futures of over 22 lakh students into uncertainty. The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has moved the Supreme Court, seeking the replacement of the NTA with a more technologically robust and autonomous body. +1
“Big people are protected, while ordinary people are harassed,” alleged one of the accused while being transported to Delhi, hinting at a deeper conspiracy that the CBI is currently probing.
The NTA has announced that a re-examination will be conducted, with dates expected to be released within the next 10 days. Meanwhile, student bodies including the NSUI and ABVP continue to hold demonstrations across the capital, demanding total transparency and a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe.
