Shubham Khairnar, a 30-year-old from Nandagaon in Nashik district, Maharashtra, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as the first accused in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. He allegedly purchased the question paper for ₹10 lakh (approximately $12,000 USD) and sold it for ₹15 lakh (around $18,000 USD), pocketing a profit of ₹5 lakh (about $6,000 USD). Despite enrolling in a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) program at Shri Satya Sai University in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, Khairnar never attended any classes or participated in university activities. He operated an educational consultancy firm, SR Consultancy, in Nashik and Bhopal, where he allegedly received the leaked paper via courier and sold it through WhatsApp. The paper circulated to students across six states, including Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, and Kerala, with prices for access ranging from ₹25,000 to ₹2 lakh (approximately $300 to $2,400 USD). The investigation began when teachers in Sikar reported irregularities, leading to a multi-state probe. Khairnar's brother, Bhavesh, has also been detained for questioning, and the CBI is exploring the broader network involved in the leak.