Physics Wallah CEO Alakh Pandey Attacks NTA Over NEET Leak, Asks 'Did Anyone Go To Jail In 2024 After Leak?'

The cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 over alleged paper leak claims has sparked nationwide outrage among students, parents and educators. Joining the criticism now is Alakh Pandey, who strongly questioned the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and raised concerns over repeated examination controversies.

Speaking to news agencies after the NEET-UG 2026 cancellation, the Physics Wallah CEO claimed that several students had informed him that the NEET paper was allegedly being sold on platforms like Telegram nearly two days before the examination.

According to the students, the paper was allegedly being offered for prices ranging between Rs 50,000 and Rs 5 lakh.

"Students Lose Trust In The System"

Alakh Pandey said such incidents completely destroy the trust of hardworking students who spend years preparing for one examination.

Physics Wallah CEO Alakh Pandey hits-out at NTA over NEET row-

"Even school exam management is better than this.

Kids are depressed as they and their families were heavily invested in it for last 2 years.

Children might have skipped functions, mother might have sold her… pic.twitter.com/du5fW6bphI

— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) May 12, 2026

He stated that millions of students and families sacrifice financially and emotionally for NEET preparation, only to feel cheated when paper leak allegations emerge.

Pandey said:

"There are children who have not attended parties for two or three years. Entire families struggle to make one child a doctor. A mother may have sold jewellery to buy books. A father may have avoided buying clothes. Then the child works hard, scores 600 out of 720 and later discovers that someone sitting beside him allegedly had the full paper. Why?"
He added that students begin losing faith in the fairness of competitive examinations when such incidents repeatedly happen.

"Even School Exams Are Managed Better"

The Physics Wallah founder also sharply criticised the NTA over its handling of the examination process.

#WATCH | Noida, Uttar Pradesh: On NTA cancelling the NEET-UG 2026 exam, Founder & CEO of PhysicsWallah, Alakh Pandey says, “It is very unfortunate…students lose faith in the system when such incidents happen…it puts the students under a lot of mental pressure…papers get leaked… pic.twitter.com/CsGaRStTh5

— ANI (@ANI) May 12, 2026

Taking aim at claims that national-level exams are conducted under strict security, Pandey said even school examinations appear better managed.

"They say this is not a school exam. It is better to have a school exam. At least I have not heard of school papers getting leaked like this," he remarked.

Pandey also questioned accountability in earlier controversies and reportedly asked whether anyone had gone to jail after the NEET 2024 paper leak allegations.

Students And Families Under Pressure

The NEET controversy has once again highlighted the enormous pressure faced by medical aspirants in India. Every year, lakhs of students spend years preparing for the highly competitive medical entrance exam. Many students take gap years and leave regular social life behind to focus entirely on preparation.

Pandey pointed out that NEET preparation affects not only students but entire families who invest savings, loans and emotional support into the dream of securing a medical seat.

He said the cancellation has left nearly "one crore people unhappy and depressed," including students and their family members.

CBI Begins Formal Investigation

Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has officially launched a probe into the alleged irregularities surrounding NEET-UG 2026.

The agency registered an FIR after receiving a written complaint from the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education.

According to the CBI, the case includes charges such as:

• Criminal conspiracy
• Cheating
• Criminal breach of trust
• Theft
• Destruction of evidence
• Violations under the Public Examination Prevention of Unfair Means Act, 2024

Multiple Teams Sent Across India

The CBI has deployed special investigation teams to multiple states to examine the scale of the alleged paper leak network. Officials said investigators will examine whether an organised interstate network was involved in leaking question papers or manipulating the examination process.

However, the agency has not yet revealed how many individuals are currently under investigation or which states are under direct scrutiny.

NEET-UG 2026 Cancelled Nationwide

The National Testing Agency officially cancelled the May 3 NEET-UG 2026 examination after mounting allegations of paper leaks and irregularities.

The examination was attended by nearly 22.79 lakh candidates across India.
The cancellation triggered massive protests in several coaching hubs, with students demanding transparency and accountability.

Many aspirants also questioned whether the NTA should continue conducting the examination.

NTA Promises Re-Exam And Fee Refund

On Tuesday, NTA Director General Abhishek Singh confirmed that all examination fees paid by students would be refunded. He also announced that a fresh examination would be conducted without charging candidates any additional fees.

The agency is expected to announce the new examination date soon.

Growing Demand For Examination Reforms

The NEET 2026 controversy has once again reignited debate over the credibility of India's biggest entrance examinations.

Students, parents and education experts are now demanding stronger digital security, tighter monitoring systems and greater accountability from examination authorities.

Many aspirants fear that repeated controversies could damage trust in national-level examinations and unfairly affect genuine students who spend years preparing honestly.

As the CBI investigation expands, lakhs of medical aspirants across the country are now waiting for answers, accountability and clarity over the future of NEET-UG 2026.