Maharashtra Police Cooperating with CBI Probe

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on May 13 that state police were cooperating with the Central Bureau of Investigation in the probe into the NEET-UG 2026 paper-leak case, after the national medical entrance exam was cancelled earlier this week. He called the alleged leak “an extremely serious matter” and said investigators should reach “the root of the matter” and identify everyone involved. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) (ddnews.gov.in) The National Testing Agency cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination on May 12, nine days after the test was held on May 3, and said a fresh examination would be conducted on dates to be announced later. (ddnews.gov.in) The agency said the decision was taken with the approval of the Indian government after reviewing material available with the NTA, inputs from central agencies and findings shared by law-enforcement authorities. More than 22 lakh candidates were affected by the cancellation, according to multiple Indian media reports on the scale of the exam disruption. The test is the main gateway for undergraduate medical admissions in India, and the cancellation triggered protests, legal challenges and uncertainty for students awaiting a revised schedule. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra have become part of the investigation as police and central agencies examine how the alleged paper circulated before the exam. Reports cited a Maharashtra link including arrests and detentions tied to Nashik, Pune and Latur, where investigators were examining whether leaked material was distributed through encrypted messaging platforms and coaching networks. (ddnews.gov.in) Fadnavis said the Maharashtra Police would give full support to the CBI and that “every person involved must be caught” and face strict action. His remarks came a day after the Centre referred the matter to the CBI for what official and media reports described as a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations surrounding the exam. (freepressjournal.in) The alleged leak centered on a so-called “guess paper” that investigators said showed substantial overlap with the actual question paper, according to reports from Indian media outlets covering the case. The Indian Express reported that investigators traced the circulation of the material through forwarded messages, while other reports said the inquiry had expanded across several states as the CBI made arrests. (msn.com) The NTA has said candidates will not need to register again for the fresh exam and that new dates, along with fresh admit-card details, will be announced separately through official channels. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) As of May 14, neither the agency nor the government had publicly announced the revised examination date. (news18.com) (indianexpress.com)