New Delhi, May 14: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two more accused in connection with the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, taking the total number of arrests in the investigation to seven, officials said on Thursday.
The newly arrested accused have been identified as Dhananjay Lokhanda from Ahilyanagar and Manisha Waghmare from Pune, both in Maharashtra. The arrests were made following extensive searches and coordinated operations conducted by the agency across multiple states over the past 24 hours.
According to officials, the CBI carried out raids at 14 locations across the country as part of its ongoing investigation into the alleged examination malpractice and paper leak network linked to the national-level medical entrance examination.
The agency had earlier arrested five individuals from different locations, including three accused from Jaipur, one from Gurugram and another from Nashik. Investigators suspect the involvement of a larger organized network engaged in leaking examination papers and facilitating unfair means during the examination process.
Meanwhile, the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has sent the five previously arrested accused to seven days of CBI custody for further interrogation and investigation.
The CBI registered the case on May 12, 2026, based on a complaint filed by the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education. The complaint alleged irregularities and leakage of the NEET-UG 2026 examination paper, triggering a nationwide investigation.
Officials said several special investigation teams have been working simultaneously in different states to identify all individuals connected to the alleged racket. Multiple suspects are currently being questioned, and further arrests are likely as the probe progresses.
The agency stated that investigators are examining digital evidence, financial transactions and communication records to uncover the complete network behind the alleged paper leak conspiracy.
The CBI reiterated that the investigation is being conducted in a professional and impartial manner to ensure strict action against all those found involved in compromising the integrity of the highly competitive medical entrance examination.
The NEET-UG examination is one of the country’s largest entrance tests for admission into undergraduate medical courses, and the alleged leak has raised concerns among students, parents and educational authorities nationwide.
