JAIPUR/NEW DELHI/PUNE: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested five suspects and detained four others across states in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, uncovering what investigators say was a multi-state distribution chain that began with a hard copy of the question paper procured in Pune and circulated through couriers, WhatsApp groups and coaching networks in Rajasthan, Haryana and Maharashtra. Among those arrested are three members of a Rajasthan-based family from JamwaRamgarh in Jaipur district — Dinesh Biwal, his brother Mangilal Biwal, and Mangilal’s son Vikas Biwal.
Arrests across states, Biwal family under scanner
The arrested suspects include Dinesh Biwal, Mangilal Biwal and Vikas Biwal from Jamwa Ramgarh. Four others have also been detained as part of the widening probe. Officials said questioning is underway to reconstruct the chain of distribution and identify the original source of the leaked material.
Pune link: Hard copy, couriers and digital circulation trail
Investigators have traced the alleged point of origin to Pune, where an Ayurveda practitioner is said to have received a hard copy of the leaked question paper. Officials said the practitioner couriered it to Khairnar in Nashik, who allegedly clicked photographs of the document and forwarded them to a Gurgaon-based contact. From there, the material was circulated further through WhatsApp groups, Telegram channels, coaching networks and courier routes across Rajasthan, Haryana and Maharashtra.
Whistleblower alert triggered probe
The case surfaced after a coaching institute faculty member in Sikar flagged discrepancies between a widely circulated “guess paper” and the actual NEET paper. The faculty alerted authorities after noticing multiple matching questions between May 8 and May 10. An email was sent to the National Testing Agency (NTA), following which the information reached the Special Operations Group (SOG) headquarters in Jaipur on May 8.
Whistleblower alert triggered probe
The case surfaced after a coaching institute faculty member in Sikar flagged discrepancies between a widely circulated “guess paper” and the actual NEET paper. The faculty alerted authorities after noticing multiple matching questions between May 8 and May 10. An email was sent to the National Testing Agency (NTA), following which the information reached the Special Operations Group (SOG) headquarters in Jaipur on May 8.
Biwal family at the centre of Rajasthan leg of probe
The Biwal family has emerged as a key focus of the investigation. Sources said four children from the family cleared NEET in 2025 and are studying in different medical colleges. Dinesh Biwal’s son had been preparing for NEET-UG this year in Sikar, while Vikas Biwal had appeared for the exam last year but did not qualify. Officials suspect Dinesh travelled to Sikar around April 29 and allegedly handed over the question set to his son after procuring it from a person identified as Yash. Investigators believe Dinesh shared the material with at least 10 people.
Student from Sikar under scanner, wider chain suspected
Preliminary findings suggest the initial “culprit” has been identified as a student from Sikar, though the CBI believes the distribution chain could extend further up the network. Investigators are also probing whether Dinesh’s son further circulated the material within his coaching institute. A separate name, Rakesh Mandawariya, who runs RK Consultancy, has also come under scrutiny.
Court production and transit to Delhi
After producing Dinesh Biwal, Mangilal Biwal, Vikas Biwal and Yash before a court in Jaipur, the CBI took them to Delhi on transit remand for further interrogation.
Accused alleges protection to ‘bigwigs’
One of the accused, while being taken for production before a judge in Jaipur, alleged that influential people were being shielded in the case. The CBI produced the accused before a judge in Jaipur on Wednesday evening. A CBI official told reporters in front of the judge’s residence that the accused were being taken to Delhi on transit remand. When media persons attempted to speak to the accused who were in the vehicle, one of them claimed that “bigwigs were being protected while ordinary people are harassed (bade logon ko bachaya jata aur aam aadmi ko pareshan kiya jata hai)”.
