NEET Leak Probe Deepens After Maharashtra Arrest

Students and parents gradually started trusting Shubham Khairnar for NEET counselling and admission-related advice. Local coaching circles viewed him as someone familiar with the medical admission process. Investigators now allege that he used those connections to enter the illegal paper Leak network. Police accused him of buying leaked NEET-UG question papers for nearly Rs 10 lakh and selling each copy for about Rs 15 lakh through contacts linked to Rajasthan.

Shubham Khairnar once dreamed of entering the medical field and enrolled in a BAMS course at Shri Satya Sai University in Sehore in 2021. University officials said he attended admission formalities but never returned for classes or examinations. He later came back to Nashik and started SR Education Consultancy in a busy coaching area. Using the title “Dr” before his name, he began guiding students seeking admission to medical courses like MBBS, BDS and BHMS.

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Maharashtra sees first arrest in NEET-UG leak investigation

The investigation reached Maharashtra after Rajasthan Police shared information about the suspected movement of leaked papers. Officers later traced Shubham Khairnar near a temple in Nashik, where he had allegedly shaved his head to avoid identification. Police said he attempted to escape and repeatedly denied his identity when officers approached him. Investigators verified his identity through old photographs, technical evidence and local checks before taking him into custody.

Police faced several challenges while tracking him because the Khairnar surname is common in Nashik district. Investigators used digital surveillance, technical inputs and social media activity to monitor his movements. By the time officers located him, he had changed his appearance completely. A special CBI task force later took formal custody of him as part of the nationwide NEET-UG paper leak investigation.

Shubham Khairnar grew up in Nandgaon in a family known locally for ayurvedic treatment practices. His father, Madhukar Khairnar, described himself as a farmer and denied holding a medical degree, though he admitted treating patients. He also claimed he did not know about his son’s alleged activities and believed he only counselled students. Investigators are now examining the full network linked to the consultancy and the circulation of the leaked examination papers.

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