The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) presented Shubham Khairnar, the individual arrested in connection with the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, before the Killa Court in Mumbai. Khairnar has been granted two days of transit custody and is set to appear before a Delhi court on Thursday as part of the ongoing investigation into the nationwide examination leak. The CBI highlighted the need for custodial interrogation due to unidentified accomplices linked to the case.
Shubham Khairnar was apprehended by the CBI while en route to a temple for prayers. He had altered his appearance by cutting his hair in an attempt to avoid detection and arrest. Despite his efforts, officials were able to identify him by comparing his current appearance with previous photographs and utilizing technical surveillance inputs gathered during the investigation.
Following the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 for over 22 lakh candidates nationwide, the controversy surrounding the leaked question paper emerged. Originating in Maharashtra’s Nashik, the leaked question paper quickly spread to other states. Investigators suspect that Khairnar, a Nashik resident, played a pivotal role in distributing the leaked paper. Allegedly, he purchased the paper from a Pune-based individual before selling it at a profit.
Officials revealed that Khairnar, a 30-year-old BAMS student from Nashik, acquired the leaked paper for Rs 10 lakh and later sold it for Rs 15 lakh in Haryana, making a profit of Rs 5 lakh. The leaked paper’s circulation extended to various states, including Gurugram, Jaipur, Sikar, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, and Kerala, raising concerns about the security and credibility of the entrance examination. The CBI is actively investigating to uncover the full network involved in the alleged paper leak and ascertain the extent of the conspiracy.
