Who Is Shubham Khairnar? Nashik 'Doctor' Who Never Attended College But Knew How To 'Sell' NEET Paper

Last Updated:May 14, 2026, 09:00 IST

NEET Paper Leak: Khairnar cropped his hair short to change his appearance and dodge arrest. It didn't work — police matched him to older photos and caught him on his way to temple.

Shubham Khairnar, 30, from Nashik’s Nandagaon, was nabbed by the CBI while on his way to a temple — his hair freshly cut to dodge arrest. Maharashtra’s first accused in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, he allegedly bought the question paper for Rs 10 lakh and sold it for Rs 15 lakh, pocketing Rs 5 lakh. The paper, traced back to Nashik, eventually reached students across six states.

Khairnar had enrolled in a BAMS course — Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery — at Shri Satya Sai University in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh in 2021. But university records tell a damning story: he never once attended a class, sat for an exam, or participated in any university activity.

The institution has since distanced itself entirely from him. Back in Nashik, however, he had built a parallel life — running SR Consultancy, an educational consultancy firm with offices in both Nashik and Bhopal.

How Did College Dropout Become Nashik Link In National Paper Leak Racket?

• Khairnar allegedly received the NEET-UG 2026 question paper in physical format via courier from an associate

• He converted it into a PDF and sold it over WhatsApp to a buyer in Gurugram, Haryana, for Rs 15 lakh

• The Gurugram buyer then spread it further — the paper reached Rajasthan’s Sikar and Jaipur, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar and Kerala

• It was circulated through Telegram and WhatsApp groups, disguised as a “guess paper" to avoid detection

• Students across these states allegedly paid between Rs 25,000 and Rs 2 lakh per copy for access

How Did The Trail Lead Back To Nashik?

It started with a group of teachers in Sikar who emailed the NTA flagging irregularities after noticing the exam questions closely matched a circulated guess paper. The NTA passed the tip to the Intelligence Bureau, which directed Rajasthan Police.

The Special Operations Group then traced the paper’s movement state by state — from Sikar to Jaipur, to Haryana, and finally to Nashik. Rajasthan Police alerted Nashik Crime Branch, and Khairnar was picked up on Tuesday.

What Happens Next?

The CBI has taken transit custody and will produce Khairnar before a Delhi court. His brother Bhavesh has also been detained for questioning.

What Role Does His Brother Play?

• Shubham’s brother Bhavesh Khairnar has been taken into custody for questioning

• The CBI conducted a search of Bhavesh’s residence as part of the ongoing probe

• Investigators are examining whether Bhavesh had any active role in the paper leak network

• He is expected to be released after questioning, subject to findings

What Does The Family Say?

• Shubham’s father, Dr. Madhukar Khairnar, has flatly denied all allegations against his son

• He told reporters his son had been “practising BAMS in Nashik for the past six months" and that the family sent him monthly expenses

• Dr. Khairnar expressed confidence his son would be proven innocent

• He added that the administration should carry out its investigation — stopping short of obstructing the probe publicly

Where Does The Case Stand Legally?

• The CBI produced Khairnar before Mumbai’s Killa Court, which granted two days of transit custody

• He is to be produced before a Delhi court for further remand

• The CBI told the court that several accomplices remain unidentified — making custodial interrogation critical

•Investigators believe Nashik is only one node in a far wider, multi-state organised racket

• The full network, say officials, is yet to be mapped

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