UGC-NET Paper Leak Case: CBI Likely To File Charge Sheet Against Youth Who Circulated ‘Doctored’ Screenshot on Telegram

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is expected to file a charge sheet against a youth accused of circulating a "doctored" screenshot of the UGC-NET paper on Telegram, which prompted the exam's cancellation after a Union Home Ministry alert about a potential "breach," according to officials. The CBI did not uncover any large-scale conspiracy in the incident and plans to restrict the charge sheet to charges of attempted cheating or cheating, they added.

The central agency's probe into the alleged UGC-NET paper leak had found that the screenshot of the "leaked" question paper for the June 18 exam was "doctored" by a school student, the officials said.

The CBI has informally shared its findings with the government and is expected to file a charge sheet against the youth, officials said. Over 11 lakh candidates had registered for the exam, which determines eligibility for junior research fellowships, assistant professor appointments, and PhD admissions in Indian universities and colleges.

The Union Education Ministry canceled the exam on June 19 following an alert from the Union Home Ministry's National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C).