A 23-year-old NEET aspirant allegedly died by suicide in Rajasthan’s Sikar district on Friday, days after the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination over allegations of a major paper leak.
The deceased, identified as Pradeep Mahich (also reported as Pradeep Meghwal), was a resident of Jhunjhunu district and had been preparing for the medical entrance exam in Sikar for the last three years. He was staying in a rented room in the Jaldhari Nagar area on Piprali Road with his two sisters.
According to police, Pradeep allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister’s scarf while he was alone in the room.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said one of his sisters had gone to coaching classes, while another was in the bathroom at the time of the incident.
“His sister later found him hanging, brought him down, and informed the landlord and police,” the officer said. He added that Pradeep was rushed to SK Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Police said an investigation is underway and the body has been kept in the mortuary for postmortem.
Family Says Exam Cancellation Left Him Distressed
Family members said Pradeep had been under severe stress after the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination following allegations of a paper leak.
According to his father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, Pradeep had worked hard for years and was expecting a strong result in this year’s exam.
“His paper had gone very well this time. We were expecting over 650 marks and believed he would finally become a doctor,” his father said.
Relatives claimed Pradeep had become deeply disturbed after the exam cancellation and uncertainty surrounding the re-examination.
“After hearing about the paper leak and cancellation, he became disturbed and depressed,” his father said.
The family said they had invested nearly ₹8 to ₹11 lakh in his education despite financial struggles. Pradeep was the only son in the family, while his father reportedly worked as a daily wage labourer.
“We even postponed building our own house because we wanted to ensure a bright future for Pradeep,” the grieving father said.
Paper Leak Probe Intensifies in Rajasthan
The incident comes amid a widening investigation into the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, particularly in Rajasthan’s coaching hubs such as Sikar and Jhunjhunu.
Before the May 3 examination, a 150-page “guess paper” was allegedly circulated among students in the region. Officials suspect several questions matched the actual NEET paper, including similarities in language, sequence and punctuation.
The NTA cancelled the examination earlier this week after reports of irregularities surfaced. A re-examination has been scheduled for June 21, affecting nearly 22 lakh students nationwide.
The Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) has launched a major investigation into the alleged leak. Several arrests have already been made from Rajasthan and other states in connection with the case.
Political Reactions Over Student’s Death
The incident has sparked political reactions, with leaders questioning the handling of the alleged paper leak.
Rahul Gandhi called recent suicides linked to NEET-related distress “murder by the system” and questioned accountability over repeated exam controversies.
Meanwhile, Sachin Pilot expressed grief and said repeated paper leaks were affecting students’ mental health.
“The suicide of Pradeep is deeply tragic. Anxiety regarding the NEET 2026 paper leak has placed immense pressure on students and directly impacted their mental health,” Pilot said.
Police said further investigation into the circumstances surrounding Pradeep’s death is ongoing.
