A complex network involving students, courier services, coaching centres and a suspected “private mafia” appears to lie behind the alleged leak of the NEET‑UG 2026 paper, investigators say, as the case moves from state police probes to a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry. Authorities now trace a paper trail that begins with an accused medical student in Nashik and extends to hand‑written “guess papers” circulated among aspirants in Gurugram and beyond.
How the alleged leak unfolded: Nashik to Gurugram
Investigators say a third‑year BAMS student in Nashik — identified as a buyer of the original question paper — allegedly paid ₹10 lakh to obtain the set and later sold it to a contact in Gurugram for ₹15 lakh, both transfers arranged via courier, police sources told reporters. The Gurugram recipient reportedly used the original paper to compile a 410‑question handwritten “guess paper” that camouflaged roughly 120 questions which later matched the actual Chemistry section, according to Special Operations Group (SOG) findings.
The role of couriers, hostels and coaching centres
Officials probing the chain found that the handwritten guess papers were copied and sold to students in paying‑guest hostels and coaching institutes, suggesting a commercialised distribution network rather than an isolated leak. Evidence so far includes courier records, WhatsApp forwards of the guess paper, and testimonies pointing to organised sales to batches of aspirants in multiple states.
Modus operandi and the “private mafia” allegation
Police describe a layered operation: original paper acquisition, reproduction into larger guess banks, and targeted distribution through local handlers and coaching‑linked agents — a pattern investigators link to long‑standing “paper leak mafias” that monetise high‑stakes exams. Sources say such rings often involve paper solvers, impersonators and logistics providers who exploit weak custody and distribution points.
Evidence, arrests and escalation to CBI
Authorities have arrested key accused, including the Nashik student (now in CBI custody), and are analysing courier manifests, digital chats and forensics on circulated documents to establish who possessed the original paper and how it left secure channels. The Rajasthan SOG and other state units first uncovered the 410‑question guess bank; given the cross‑border movement and scale, the matter has been referred to the CBI for a consolidated probe and to preserve evidence across jurisdictions.
What investigators are focusing on now
Agencies are reconstructing the chain of custody — from the moment the paper left examination storage to when copies reached coaching networks — and probing whether insiders at printing, storage, transport or centre management levels aided the leak. Investigators are also examining financial trails (large cash transfers), mobile metadata, and GPS/ CCTV from courier hubs and paying‑guest facilities to link handlers to the accused.
This developing investigation highlights systemic vulnerabilities in exam logistics and the lucrative market for leaked content; authorities have pledged strict action and systemic fixes while the CBI completes its inquiry.
