Jaipur/Sikar: The controversy surrounding the NEET-UG 2026 examination has deepened dramatically after the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) uncovered what investigators now describe as a multi-state organised paper leak syndicate. What initially appeared to be a smoothly conducted national medical entrance examination on May 3 soon turned into one of the country’s biggest education scandals after a “guess paper” circulating in Rajasthan’s coaching hub Sikar allegedly matched the original question paper almost entirely.
The breakthrough in the investigation came on the night of May 8, when an intelligence input from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) reportedly alerted Rajasthan’s SOG about possible irregularities linked to the NEET examination. According to sources associated with the investigation, senior officers including ADG Vishal Bansal, IG Ajaypal Lamba and SP Kundan Kanwaria immediately assembled at the SOG headquarters in Jaipur around 9 PM to verify the viral document.
During the verification process, officials allegedly found that as many as 135 questions and answer options matched the original NEET paper. The shocking similarity confirmed fears that the examination paper had been leaked before the test. Senior officers then launched what insiders are calling “Operation Clean,” mobilising nearly 25 SOG teams overnight and dispatching them towards Sikar, which had emerged as the primary centre of suspicion.
Sikar Emerges as the Epicentre
The investigation quickly led authorities to a private consultancy network operating in Sikar. During the probe, the name of “RK Consultancy” surfaced prominently. Investigators tracked the location of its operator to Dehradun, where questioning was reportedly conducted through video conferencing while teams simultaneously raided connected locations in Rajasthan.
The investigation widened after the interrogation of an e-Mitra operator detained in Sikar. According to SOG sources, the accused revealed that the leaked paper had allegedly been procured on April 29 from a man identified as Yash Yadav based in Gurugram, Haryana.
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Haryana and Maharashtra Links Exposed
As investigators dug deeper, the leak trail expanded beyond Rajasthan. Yash Yadav allegedly confessed that he had received the paper from Shubham Khairnar, a suspect based in Nashik, Maharashtra. Rajasthan SOG teams, with assistance from Maharashtra Police, launched immediate coordinated action and detained Khairnar for questioning.
Officials now believe the syndicate operated through a well-organised interstate network involving middlemen, coaching-linked operators, digital communication channels and financial transactions spread across multiple states.
Massive Questioning Drive
In one of the largest coordinated interrogations linked to an examination scam in recent years, SOG has reportedly questioned around 150 individuals so far, including nearly 80 students. On Tuesday, the agency handed over nine suspects from Jaipur and five from Sikar to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has now taken over the larger probe.
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Among those questioned or detained are individuals identified as Vikram Yadav, Yogesh Prajapat, Sandeep Haritwal and several others suspected of being directly or indirectly connected to the circulation of leaked examination material.
Investigators are now examining digital evidence including mobile phones, WhatsApp chats, Telegram groups, financial transactions and call records to determine how the paper was sourced and distributed before the examination.
Political Storm Intensifies
The paper leak has triggered a fierce political confrontation in Rajasthan. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot accused the BJP-led state government of suppressing information about the leak for nearly two weeks, alleging that the delay endangered the future of lakhs of students.
Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully also launched a strong attack on the government, claiming that nearly 89 examination papers had leaked during the BJP’s tenure over the past decade. He further alleged deliberate delays in filing FIRs and initiating action.
The BJP government, meanwhile, has defended the investigation process and highlighted the role played by Rajasthan SOG in exposing the network before the matter was transferred to the CBI.
NTA Cancels Examination
Following the evidence presented by SOG and mounting pressure over the credibility of the examination process, the National Testing Agency (NTA) eventually decided to cancel the NEET-UG 2026 examination. The CBI is now conducting a comprehensive probe into the alleged leak network, including its financial, digital and interstate dimensions.
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With the investigation still unfolding, agencies suspect that more arrests and larger revelations could emerge in the coming days as authorities attempt to identify the masterminds behind one of the most significant examination scandals in recent years.
