WhatsApp groups, photographs, Telegram: The digital trail that led to NEET UG paper leakThe Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, alleging that digital platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and a network of intermediaries were used to leak the exam paper. The original exam was held on May 3, but was canceled days later due to allegations of leakage, leading to a retest on June 21. The CBI claims that forensic examination of seized devices uncovered chat logs, PDF files, and photographs of the question paper, which helped trace the leak from National Testing Agency (NTA) subject experts to intermediaries and finally to students. Several students reportedly committed suicide due to the leak. The investigation identified key figures, including Yash Yadav and Shubham Madhukar Khairnar, and found evidence of a coordinated network involving WhatsApp groups and Telegram contacts. Forensic data, including call records and device analysis, supported witness testimonies and reconstructed the timeline of the leak.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of the CBI's investigation into the NEET-UG paper leak, focusing on the technical and procedural aspects of the case. While the issue of exam integrity is politically sensitive, the reporting does not take a clear ideological stance. Instead, it emphasizes theC
Covert sessions, handwritten notes: CBI reveals how NEET paper was leakedIn April 2026, the NEET-UG question paper was leaked weeks before the May 3 examination, leading to the cancellation of the exam and a subsequent re-examination on June 21. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) revealed that three subject experts contracted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), Manisha Gurunath Mandhare (Botany and Zoology), Pralhad Vithalrao Kulkarni (Chemistry), and Manisha Sanjay Havaldar (Physics), were responsible for the leak. Unlike traditional leaks involving printed materials, the questions were extracted during the preparatory stages and distributed via handwritten notes, oral dictation, and photographs. Kulkarni and Mandhare organized secret revision sessions in Pune where candidates memorized the questions, while Havaldar coordinated with coaching faculty to circulate the leaked content. Financial transactions linked to the leak were uncovered, including an online transfer to Havaldar’s husband. The leak spread beyond Maharashtra through intermediaries, highlighting systemic issues in exam security.
Bias read (Center): While the leak involved high-stakes national-level exams and raised concerns about institutional integrity, the article presents the facts objectively without overtly criticizing or praising any political entity. It focuses on the procedural aspects of the leak and the investigative findings rather
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