CBI Files Chargesheet Against 13 Accused in NEET Paper Leak

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday submitted its initial chargesheet before Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Special Court against 13 arrested individuals in connection with the May 3 NEET-UG question paper leak, completing the first stage of its federal probe two months after taking over the case.

The probe agency informed the court that all 13 accused remain in judicial custody. Investigators cited testimonies from 360 witnesses, 422 documentary exhibits, and 43 physical items recovered during 92 searches across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.

Scope of Charges and Findings

The chargesheet invokes provisions of criminal conspiracy, cheating, breach of trust, destruction of evidence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), alongside sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act.

Key findings detailed in the filing:

• End-to-End Leak Trail: Investigators stated digital forensics and handwriting analysis established the leak chain from paper setters down to beneficiary candidates who received leaked questions prior to examination day.
• No Official Co-conspirators Named Yet: The initial filing states no office-bearer of the National Testing Agency (NTA) or Union Education Ministry was found directly complicit in the paper distribution chain, though supplementary investigations into administrative oversights remain open.
• Physical Evidentiary Seizures: Material objects submitted include digital communication devices, handwritten notes matching leaked question sets, and financial ledgers recovered from raid locations.

Judicial Next Steps

Rouse Avenue Special Judge is scheduled to take formal cognizance of the chargesheet on Wednesday, July 30. Defense counsel requested complete copies of the 422 documents and witness statements once cognizance is taken.

The filing comes as Lok Sabha passed amendments to the Public Examinations Act raising leak penalties to 10 years imprisonment, following the month-long sit-in by student groups and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar that led to former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

What we can verify

• Filing Location & Court: CBI filed the chargesheet at Rouse Avenue Court, Delhi, naming 13 arrested individuals currently in judicial custody. — Hindustan Times
• Evidentiary Scale: Agency cited 360 witnesses, 422 documents, 43 material objects, and raids across 92 locations in 5 states. — The Hindu
• Statutory Provisions: Charges include criminal conspiracy, cheating, corruption, and Public Examinations Act violations. — Hindustan Times

What remains unverified

• Supplementary Chargesheets: Whether additional chargesheets will name senior officials or institutional vendors remains pending completion of ongoing digital device forensics. — [unverified]