NEET Paper Leak – Rahul Gandhi Targets Centre After Aspirant’s Death
NEET Paper Leak – Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday met the family of NEET aspirant Pradeep Meghwal, whose death by suicide has intensified the political debate surrounding the alleged NEET UG 2026 paper leak case. During the meeting, Gandhi expressed condolences to the grieving family and sharply criticised the Central government over the handling of the examination system.
Rahul Gandhi Meets Grieving Family
Speaking after the visit, the Congress MP described the incident as a tragic outcome of what he called a “deeply flawed and corrupt system.” He said students preparing for competitive examinations already face enormous academic pressure, and incidents such as paper leaks further damage their confidence and future prospects.
Gandhi stated that Meghwal’s family had suffered an irreparable loss and accused the authorities of failing to protect the integrity of one of the country’s most important entrance examinations. He alleged that irregularities within the examination process had destroyed the aspirations of many deserving students across India.
Concerns Over Student Confidence
The Congress leader also interacted with several NEET aspirants who voiced frustration over repeated controversies linked to examination leaks and alleged malpractice. According to Gandhi, many students told him they no longer trusted the current examination system and feared that hard work alone was no longer enough to secure success.
He claimed that the growing anger among students reflected wider dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of educational institutions and recruitment processes. Gandhi further remarked that India’s youth would eventually demand major reforms to restore transparency and fairness in competitive examinations.
Investigation Into NEET Leak Continues
Meanwhile, the investigation into the alleged NEET UG paper leak continued to progress in Delhi. A Rouse Avenue Court granted the Central Bureau of Investigation custody of two accused individuals until June 1 as part of the ongoing probe into the case.
The accused include Dr Manoj Shirure, a doctor based in Latur, and Tejas Harshad Kumar Shah, a Physics faculty member associated with a Pune-based coaching institute. The CBI informed the court that both individuals were allegedly connected to the circulation of leaked examination questions.
According to investigators, Dr Shirure allegedly helped three students gain access to leaked Chemistry questions. Officials also claimed that Tejas Shah had received leaked Physics questions from another accused individual already under investigation.
Court Proceedings and Custody Orders
Special Judge Vidya Prakash approved the request for police custody after the CBI argued that further interrogation was necessary to uncover the larger conspiracy behind the alleged leak and distribution network connected to the NEET examination.
The agency told the court that it was examining the possible involvement of additional individuals linked to coaching centres and intermediaries. Investigators are also attempting to determine how confidential examination material was accessed and circulated before the test.
In a related development, two other accused persons, Prahalad Kulkarni and Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, were remanded to judicial custody until June 10. The CBI had sought extended custody while continuing its investigation into the wider network allegedly involved in the case.
Growing Debate Over Examination Reforms
The alleged NEET paper leak controversy has once again sparked national discussions regarding the security and credibility of competitive examinations in India. Opposition parties have repeatedly raised concerns about recurring leaks in entrance and recruitment tests, while students and parents continue to demand stronger safeguards and stricter accountability.
Education experts have also stressed the need for reforms aimed at ensuring transparency, improving digital security, and reducing the mental pressure faced by aspirants preparing for high-stakes examinations. The issue is expected to remain a significant political and public concern in the coming weeks as the investigation continues.