Nashik student faces CBI heat over medical entrance leak
Shubham Khairnar
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials took a 30-year-old medical student into custody from Nashik following sensational claims of his involvement in the NEET UG 2026 paper leak. Shubham Khairnar, a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) student, allegedly acted as a middleman in a high-stakes racket that spanned multiple states. Investigators reveal that he purchased a "guess paper" - which contained actual exam questions - for Rs 10 lakh and sold it to a buyer in Haryana for Rs 15 lakh.
Changing Appearance to Evade Arrest
Law enforcement officials noted that Khairnar attempted to mask his identity by cropping his hair short to dodge surveillance. Nashik Police eventually tracked him down near a temple in the Indiranagar area using technical intelligence. This arrest follows the National Testing Agency's decision to scrap the May 3 examination, which affected nearly 22 lakh aspirants across India. Evidence suggests the leaked material was cleverly disguised as a mock set but included 45 Chemistry and 90 Biology questions that perfectly matched the official paper.
Interstate Racket under Investigation
Probes led by the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) suggest the network operated through encrypted digital channels and courier services. The paper reportedly originated from Maharashtra before moving through agents in Pune, Haryana, and Rajasthan. In Odisha, where thousands of students compete for limited medical seats, such irregularities often spark intense concern regarding the merit-based selection process for local colleges like SCB Medical College. Current findings indicate that the "Private Mafia" WhatsApp group played a role in distributing the stolen data to coaching centers and hostels. Authorities are now focusing on identifying the primary source at the printing press level to prevent future breaches.
Image courtesy: ANI and Shubham_khairnar_011/ Instagram
