NEET UG Re-Exam Live: Bihar announces free bus travel for re-NEET candidates on June 21

The CBI's investigation into the alleged re-NEET paper leak has expanded rapidly across multiple states, with the agency intensifying its crackdown on what it describes as a coordinated leak network. The case was registered on May 12 following a complaint from the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education.

According to the CBI, special teams launched searches and interrogations across the country soon after taking over the probe. The number of arrests in the case has now risen from seven on May 15 to eleven by May 22, with accused persons detained from cities including Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune, Latur and Ahilyanagar.

During the searches, investigators seized laptops, mobile phones, bank documents and other allegedly incriminating materials, which are currently under forensic and technical examination. The agency is now focusing on tracing the money trail, identifying beneficiaries and examining whether more insiders linked to the examination system were involved in the alleged subject-wise paper leak operation.

Ahead of the re-NEET examination scheduled for June 21, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced that all NEET candidates will be allowed to travel free of cost on government buses across the state on exam day.

The Bihar government has also appealed to religious institutions, temples, maths, and non-governmental organisations to support students and their guardians by arranging drinking water, sattu, and refreshments at bus stands, railway stations, and other major public points to ease travel-related difficulties for aspirants.

The NEET paper leak 2026 latest news has now entered the political space, with the viral Cockroach Janta Party launching its first major campaign over the controversy.

Party founder Abhijeet Dipke has started an online petition demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, calling the NEET-UG 2026 controversy a "system failure" that affected more than 22 lakh students.

The campaign comes as the CBI probe NEET paper leak investigation continues across multiple states and public anger over the paper leak controversy keeps growing online. In a video message, Dipke alleged that the government failed to fix accountability despite admitting a "breach in the chain of command".

He also linked the issue to wider concerns around exam stress, student mental health and trust in India’s competitive exam system. The campaign has quickly gained traction across social media, especially among students frustrated over the NEET UG re-exam date 2026 and repeated questions around exam security.

With Parliament, the CBI and now online political movements focusing on the issue, the NEET credibility crisis is continuing to expand far beyond just one examination.

One chemistry teacher from Rajasthan is now at the centre of the NEET paper leak 2026 case after helping expose the controversy that led to the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026.

Shashikant Suthar, a chemistry teacher from Sikar, claimed he compared a viral "guess paper" circulating on Telegram with the actual NEET question paper after the May 3 exam and found major similarities. According to him, nearly 140 questions allegedly matched, including wording and sequence.

The development has added a dramatic twist to the ongoing CBI probe NEET paper leak case, with investigators now examining how the leaked material spread before the exam. Suthar said he informed authorities soon after spotting the overlap and later shared details with the Rajasthan SOG and CBI officials.

He also alleged there was a delay between May 3 and May 7 in escalating the issue to the NTA, claiming discussions about the leaked guess paper continued locally before a formal email was sent.

As the NEET credibility crisis deepens, Suthar is being widely seen online as one of the earliest whistleblowers in the paper leak controversy that triggered the NEET UG re-exam date 2026 announcement.

The NEET paper leak 2026 has exposed a growing contradiction within the government's own response to the controversy.

While Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan recently admitted there was a "breach in the chain of command" in the NEET exam process, NTA chief Abhishek Singh has now reportedly told a parliamentary panel that there was "no full-fledged paper leak" and that the paper was not leaked "through the system".

The differing statements have added to the wider NEET credibility crisis and confusion among students already affected by the exam cancellation. Many aspirants and parents are questioning how a breach serious enough to trigger a nationwide re-test, CBI investigation and multiple arrests is now being described in narrower terms.

The ongoing CBI probe NEET paper leak has already led to the arrest of lecturers, alleged intermediaries and coaching-linked individuals across states.

As the NEET paper leak 2026 latest news continues to dominate headlines, another issue is drawing attention ahead of the NEET re-test: India's extreme summer heat.

With temperatures crossing 45 degrees Celsius in several states, students appearing for NEET, JEE, CUET and UPSC exams are increasingly facing harsh weather conditions during some of the country's biggest entrance tests. Long travel, crowded centres, power cuts and hours of waiting in the heat are now becoming part of the exam experience itself.

The debate has intensified after the NEET exam cancellation news forced over 22 lakh aspirants to prepare again for a June re-examination during peak summer. Education experts say the current academic calendar may no longer suit India's changing climate conditions.

Many students and educators are now questioning whether high-stakes exams should continue to be held between April and June. Suggestions include shifting the national exam season to cooler months and improving infrastructure at centres with better ventilation, hydration facilities and waiting arrangements.

As the wider NEET credibility crisis and paper leak controversy continue, the conversation is expanding beyond exam security. Increasingly, it is also becoming about whether students are being tested on merit or simply on how much heat they can endure.

The NEET exam cancellation news today has prompted another relief measure for students, with the Punjab government announcing free bus travel for aspirants appearing in the NEET re-test next month.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said students will be allowed to travel free in Punjab Roadways buses from June 20 to 22 by showing their NEET admit cards. The decision comes after repeated complaints from aspirants about rising expenses, anxiety and travel difficulties following the cancellation of the May 3 exam.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said many students had reached out describing financial stress and emotional pressure after the NEET paper leak 2026 triggered a re-examination. Some students reportedly told him they were struggling even to afford transport costs to exam centres.

The move comes as the wider paper leak controversy continues to fuel concerns around student welfare and exam management. Over 22 lakh aspirants are expected to appear again for the NEET UG re-exam date 2026 after the original test was scrapped amid the ongoing CBI probe NEET paper leak.

Punjab’s decision is being seen as an attempt to ease at least part of the burden on affected students and families.

The NEET paper leak 2026 is not just about arrests and investigations anymore. It is also becoming a story about how students and parents are once again being pushed deeper into India's coaching system after the exam cancellation.

With the NEET re-test announced after the paper leak controversy, coaching hubs like Kota and Sikar have quickly launched crash courses, "rank booster" batches and special test series targeting anxious aspirants. Many students who had already returned home after the May 3 exam are now rushing back for another round of preparation.

Families are reportedly spending close to Rs 35,000 in just over a month on coaching fees, hostel stays, travel, food and study material. Some institutes are charging thousands for revision programmes and test series as the demand for re-NEET preparation surges.

The growing coaching nexus debate has also intensified alongside the ongoing CBI probe NEET paper leak. While the government has promised tighter security and action against the "exam mafia", students say the emotional and financial burden of the NEET exam cancellation is falling largely on them.

For many aspirants, the NEET re-exam no longer feels like a second chance. It feels like starting from zero all over again.

The NEET paper leak 2026 latest news has brought Maharashtra coaching figure Shivraj Motegaonkar, popularly known as "M Sir", into sharp focus. The RCC Classes founder is being questioned by the CBI as investigators widen the NEET leak probe across multiple states.

Motegaonkar started as a chemistry tutor in Latur before building RCC Classes into one of Maharashtra's biggest coaching networks for NEET and JEE aspirants. Over the years, the institute expanded to cities including Pune, Nashik, Nanded and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, becoming closely associated with the state's famous "Latur Pattern" coaching culture.

The CBI is examining Motegaonkar's alleged professional links with arrested chemistry professor PV Kulkarni, who is accused of involvement in the organised leak network. Reports suggest Kulkarni had previously taught at RCC Classes.

While Motegaonkar has not been arrested, investigators are probing whether coaching institutes or insiders played a role in circulating leaked material before the exam.

The CBI probe NEET paper leak continues as scrutiny grows over the alleged coaching nexus and insider involvement behind the cancelled exam.

The CBI probe NEET paper leak has now reached Maharashtra's Latur, where investigators have detained paediatrician Dr Manoj Shirure over allegations linked to the leaked NEET guess paper network.

According to the agency, Shirure was connected to arrested accused PV Kulkarni and RCC Classes director Shivraj Motegaonkar. Investigators claim special sessions linked to the NEET paper leak 2026 were held at Shirure's hospital shortly before the exam.

The CBI suspects the leaked material was shared with select aspirants, including Shirure's relatives and Motegaonkar's son. Separate teams have questioned family members as the probe expands into possible payments made to access exam content before May 3.

The detention comes days after raids in Nanded linked to allegations that parents paid lakhs of rupees to obtain leaked questions for their children.

The NEET paper leak 2026 case has taken another controversial turn after the National Testing Agency (NTA) reportedly told a parliamentary panel that no "full-fledged paper leak" took place in NEET-UG 2026.

According to sources, officials claimed that "only certain questions came out" before the exam and described the issue as malpractice rather than a complete compromise of the paper.

The statement has triggered fresh debate because Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had earlier admitted there was a "breach in the chain of command" and linked the crisis to an organised "exam mafia".

Even as the NTA defended its actions before the parliamentary panel on NEET, critics questioned how the exam could be cancelled if there was no significant breach. Meanwhile, preparations continue for the NEET re-test under tighter security measures.

Track the complete NEET paper leak 2026 news timeline here, starting from the May 3 exam, cancellation, CBI probe, arrests, NTA controversy, political reactions, coaching nexus allegations and the road to the NEET UG re-examination:

MAY 3-9: HOW IT BEGAN

1. May 3: NEET UG 2026 held for 22 lakh+ students

2. May 3-7: Complaints begin over possible paper leak; "guess paper" claims surface

3. By May 7: WhatsApp content flagged showing strong question matches

4. Early probe: Rajasthan SOG begins investigation; leak material flagged

5. Leak scale: ~100-140 questions match (~600 marks impact)

6. Network suspected: Links traced across Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Kerala

7. Leak mechanism: Paper allegedly sold via Telegram/WhatsApp, priced Rs 30,000 to Rs 30 lakh

8. Coaching nexus: Guess paper reportedly taught in centres, especially in Sikar

9. Distribution chain: Nashik to Haryana to Rajasthan route suspected

10. Organised racket: Agents, counsellors, students and families involved

11. Detentions begin: 40+ people picked up; digital devices seized

MAY 10-12: ESCALATION AND CANCELLATION

12. May 10-11: Leak concerns verified; cancellation decision finalised

13. May 12 (morning): Case handed over to CBI

14. May 12: NEET UG 2026 officially cancelled

15. NTA statement: Exam "could not be allowed to stand" due to compromised integrity

16. Re-exam announced: No fresh registration; fees to be adjusted/refunded

17. Fresh admit cards: To be issued later; dates awaited

18. Impact: Admission cycle and results expected to be delayed

MAY 12: PROBE DEEPENS, STUDENT AND POLITICAL REACTIONS

19. CBI probe begins: Multi-state leak network under investigation

20. Key accused detained: Links traced to Nashik, Rajasthan, Gurugram

21. Sikar hub identified: Coaching hotspot emerges as key distribution centre

22. Leak origin unclear: Printing stage vs transport breach under probe

23. Digital trail: Telegram groups and WhatsApp PDFs used for circulation

24. Suspect pool expands: ~150 students, 70 parents and counsellors flagged

25. Protests begin: Students question fairness, timelines and future

26. NSUI demonstrations: Held outside Education Ministry

27. Opposition attacks: "Paper mafia" allegations, calls for judicial probe

28. Experts react: Calls for crackdown on coaching centres and exam reforms

29. System criticism: Debate over repeated exam failures and NTA credibility

MAY 13: PROBE WIDENS, LEGAL ACTION

30. CBI expands probe: Arrests across Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi

31. High-value deals: Rs 10-50 lakh transactions under scanner

32. Leak chain clearer: Paper allegedly passed through networks before sale

33. Jamwa Ramgarh link: Identified as key Rajasthan origin point

34. Supreme Court entry: Petitions filed; hearing begins

35. Re-exam timing: Likely after CUET; still no official date

36. Mental health concerns: Stress rises among students and parents

MAY 14: NETWORK AND IMPACT

37. Money trail expands: Multiple bank accounts and deposits tracked

38. Solver gang angle: Hostel and coaching-linked operations probed

39. More arrests: Total rises; raids conducted across locations

40. Consultancy links: Private firms and MBBS counselling agents under scanner

41. Student deaths reported: Mental health impact becomes a major concern

42. Political pressure peaks: Renewed calls for scrapping or reforming NEET

43. Tech reform debate: Push for computer-based testing and stricter systems

MAY 15: RE-EXAM ANNOUNCED, GOVT ADMITS BREACH

44. Re-exam confirmed: NEET UG to be held again on June 21

45. Public announcement: NTA shares new date; 22 lakh+ students affected

46. Minister briefing: Dharmendra Pradhan addresses nation on crisis

47. Govt stance: Re-test needed to protect student interests

48. Process changes: No fresh fees; city choice window to reopen

49. Admit cards: To be released on June 14

50. Crackdown: Centre reiterates zero tolerance against "exam mafia"

51. Breach confirmed: Govt admits NEET paper leak after probe

52. Timeline clarified: Complaint on May 7; leak confirmed by May 12

53. Cause flagged: Linked to organised "education mafia"

54. Future reform: Shift to computer-based NEET hinted from 2027

55. System overhaul: Stronger security and tighter processes proposed

56. Political reaction: MK Stalin seeks scrapping of NEET

57. Opposition attack: Anurag Dhanda flags student panic, questions probe

58. Student impact: Anxiety rises over re-exam and uncertainty

59. Credibility concerns: Doubts raised over fairness of June test

60. Warning resurfaces: Parliamentary panel warning from 2025 resurfaces after leak crisis

61. Whistleblower trigger: Sikar man reportedly shared matching "guess paper" with police, later alerted NTA

62. Maharashtra link: CBI tracks trio accused of moving paper from Maharashtra to Haryana and Rajasthan

63. Chain breach admitted: Govt confirms "breakdown in chain of command" behind leak

64. Countdown begins: Authorities get 37 days to conduct June 21 re-exam

65. Online shift debate: Govt pushes CBT-based NEET from 2027 after paper leak crisis

66. Coaching angle deepens: RCC Coaching chief in Latur detained for questioning

67. 2025 fears return: Probe examines whether earlier NEET cycles were compromised

68. Biwal family under scanner: Rajasthan family investigated for alleged 2025 leak links

69. Students missing: Five Biwal family children reportedly leave medical colleges amid probe

70. Kulkarni arrested: CBI arrests NTA-linked Chemistry lecturer over alleged leak role

71. Seven arrests confirmed: Rajasthan-Maharashtra network link emerges in probe

72. Correction window opens: Students allowed to update address and exam city till May 21

73. Medical body reacts: Delhi Medical Association seeks stronger reforms and accountability

74. Coaching hubs shift: Sikar and Kottayam increasingly challenge Kota's dominance

75. Kota students respond: Aspirants welcome CBT idea but raise cyber security concerns

76. Supreme Court plea: Petition seeks dissolution and overhaul of NTA

77. Major arrests: CBI holds nine accused, including Pune Botany expert linked to paper-setting

78. NSUI protest: Demonstrators demand NTA be scrapped after repeated lapses

79. Youth Congress protest: Leaders detained while marching towards Education Minister's residence

80. Mental health toll rises: Rajasthan aspirant dies by suicide after exam cancellation

81. Fake admission racket busted: Delhi Police arrests four over bogus MBBS seat promises

82. Conspiracy chain flagged: CBI alleges coordinated leak involving paper setters and intermediaries

83. Rahul Gandhi attacks Centre: Congress leader demands Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation

84. Custody extended: PV Kulkarni and Manisha Waghmare sent to 10-day CBI custody

85. May 16: BJP hits Rahul Gandhi over NEET remarks, accuses Congress of politicising crisis

86. Centre's defence: BJP says Modi government acted swiftly with cancellation and CBI probe

87. Inside-job suspicion: CBI scans possible NTA-linked insider role in leak

88. April 27 access claim: Question papers and answer keys allegedly accessed days before exam

89. Mandhare link emerges: Biology lecturer identified as key connector between accused

90. May 16: Manisha Mandhare sent to 14-day CBI custody

MAY 17-18: STUDENT STRESS, COACHING NETWORKS

91. Kejriwal appeal: AAP chief urges students not to take extreme steps after cancellation

92. Suicide concerns: Cases from Goa, Rajasthan, Delhi and UP spark alarm

93. Student outreach: Kejriwal invites aspirants to share concerns and reform suggestions

94. Latur probe deepens: CBI questions RCC Coaching promoter Shivraj Motegaonkar

95. Mock test scrutiny: RCC material allegedly matches NEET Chemistry questions

96. Digital evidence scanned: CBI checks laptops, iPads and institute systems

97. Nanded raid: CBI searches home of father accused of paying Rs 5 lakh for leaked paper

98. Payment trail probed: Investigators examine paper supplier and money route

99. Rahul Gandhi attack: Congress leader calls Education Ministry a "department of disasters"

MAY 18-19: NTA, LEAK NETWORK UNDER FIRE

100. NTA structure questioned: Debate erupts over agency being registered as Rs 50 society

101. Governance concerns: Critics seek stronger statutory framework for NTA

102. UPSC comparison: Questions raised over accountability and oversight mechanisms

103. Motegaonkar arrested: RCC Coaching founder held in organised leak probe

104. Question bank seized: CBI recovers Chemistry material matching NEET paper

105. Forensic trail: Alleged leaked paper found on accused's mobile phone

106. Whistleblower speaks: Sikar teacher claims Chemistry questions matched "guess paper" exactly

107. AI comparison claim: Teacher says digital tools showed near-identical overlap

108. Police approach alleged: Whistleblower says he tried reporting matter on May 3 night

109. Parliamentary scrutiny: Standing Committee summons NTA chief over leak probe

MAY 20: RE-NEET FEARS AND SECURITY PUSH

110. Fresh panic online: Viral clip claims ReNEET paper will also be leaked

111. Telegram scrutiny: Messages offering "pay after selection" deals circulate online

112. Trust deficit grows: Students fear repeat breach ahead of June 21 re-exam

113. Guess paper accessed: India Today obtains handwritten 60-page Chemistry PDF

114. Leak format revealed: Handwritten notes allegedly converted into shareable PDF

115. Security review: Dharmendra Pradhan orders tighter safeguards for Re-NEET

116. District coordination: DMs and SPs directed to monitor exam preparations

117. Student facilities: Govt asks states to ensure transport, water and smoother entry systems

118. Fake channel crackdown: Centre flags misinformation networks on Telegram

119. Big Tech meeting: Meta, Google and Telegram pulled into anti-leak discussions

120. Suspicious networks: Intelligence inputs point to coordinated fake-paper campaigns

MAY 21: LEGAL ACTION, PARLIAMENT PRESSURE

121. Bulldozer action: Pune civic body seals RCC Classes properties over violations

122. Tax dues flagged: PMC cites Rs 3.2 crore pending against linked properties

123. Illegal construction: Unauthorised parking and structural changes under probe

124. Custody extended: Key accused Shubham Khairnar gets five more days in CBI custody

125. Judicial remand: Five accused sent to jail till June 2

126. Money chain probed: CBI examines Rs 10-15 lakh paper sale transactions

127. Parliament panel hearing: NTA chief and higher education secretary summoned

128. 2024 reforms questioned: MPs seek answers on why earlier safeguards failed

129. Public trust issue: NEET controversy reaches Parliament oversight stage

130. Fresh Sikar controversy: Whistleblower alleges police and officials knew of leak early

131. Police denial: Sikar SP rejects claims of prior knowledge

132. May 7 email claim: Officials allegedly alerted NTA days after exam

133. No local action: Questions raised over delay between leak claims and escalation