The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), on Tuesday, filed the first chargesheet in the NEET-UG 2026 question paper leak case against 13 arrested accused. They have been charged with criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, destruction of evidence, and other offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and offences under the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. The controversy surrounding the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmender Pradhan. Last week, the national capital witnessed violent protests that left over 150 people injured, including around 100 police personnel. The Opposition has accused the Centre of allowing the RAF to use pellet guns against protesters. On Tuesday, Parliament took up the Anti Paper (Amendment) Law, 2026 The CBI has cited 360 witnesses, 422 documents, and 43 material objects in the chargesheet. All 13 chargesheeted accused are currently in judicial custody. It may be recalled that the Department of Higher Education, Government of India, lodged a written complaint on May 12, 2026, regarding alleged irregularities and the paper leak in the NEET-UG 2026 examination held on May 3, 2026. "The CBI registered an FIR on May 12, 2026, and immediately constituted multiple teams comprising 72 officers and eight cyber forensic experts. Searches were conducted at 92 locations across Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and other states. These searches led to the seizure of incriminating digital and communication devices, documents, and other evidence," the CBI said on Tuesday. "Forensic imaging and analysis of the seized material have since been undertaken.The CBI said it acted swiftly to trace the source of the leak within weeks of registering the case. Investigators uncovered the chain from the source of the leak to the beneficiary candidates," the CBI added. The anti-corruption probe agency said that it's probe revealed that examination paper setters including mastermind PV Kulkarni were the one who leaked the question paper. "The insider was the examination paper setter. Kulkarni and others translated the papers into marathi and knew the final question paper," said officials. The first arrest in the case was made on May 13, 2026. A total of 13 accused have been arrested, including three NTA subject experts in Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. Several middlemen involved in sourcing and distributing the leaked questions were also identified and arrested. Two individuals associated with coaching institutes were arrested for allegedly obtaining the leaked question papers from the subject experts. Investigators also analysed the money trail and froze several bank accounts, bank lockers, and a demat account belonging to the accused. Digital forensic analysis reports, handwriting expert opinions, and academic experts' opinions regarding the leaked questions have been obtained. According to the CBI, these reports confirm the role of the accused in circulating the leaked questions before the examination. Further investigation and forensic analysis are continuing. The CBI made the last arrests in the case on May 27. "Dr Manoj Shirure, a Latur-based doctor, played a key role in facilitating three students, including the son of an accused coaching centre owner, in obtaining the Chemistry questions from accused P.V. Kulkarni," the CBI had said in a statement. "Another arrested accused is Tejas Harshad Kumar Shah, a Physics faculty member at Dr Abhang Prabhu Medical Academy (APMA), a Pune-based coaching centre. He received the leaked Physics questions for the NEET-UG 2026 examination from arrested accused Manisha Havaldar," the agency had said on May 27. Amid nationwide outrage, the government ordered a CBI probe. The anti-corruption agency registered the case on May 12 based on a written complaint from the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, regarding the alleged paper leak. Following the registration of the case, the CBI formed special teams, conducted searches at multiple locations across the country, and questioned several suspects.