The NEET‑UG 2026 paper‑leak saga began when the CBI filed its first chargesheet on July 28, naming 13 suspects that included three NTA subject experts, several middlemen, and representatives from coaching institutes.
On October 14, the CBI appended a 14th suspect, Sheshrao Bajrang Suryawanshi—known in court as Raj Suryawanshi—to the list, but the supplementary chargesheet does not name any National Testing Agency official, leaving the agency’s role in the leak ambiguous.
The scandal had already toppled Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after days of street protests, and the NTA cancelled the original exam held on May 12, re‑examining more than 20 lakh candidates on June 21 under a tightened security regime.
The Delhi court has now ordered that the chargesheet be served to the accused’s counsel and scheduled a hearing for October 15, where bail petitions may be considered.
Investigators have frozen bank accounts linked to the accused, including a demat account, and traced a Rs 5 lakh payment from Dr Manoj Bhagwanrao Shirure to the alleged co‑conspirator, underscoring the financial dimension of the conspiracy.