Gehlot alleges Dinesh Binwal is BJP functionary, demands probe
Jaipur: Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government over the leak of the NEET-UG 2026 question paper and the subsequent cancellation of the exam. Gehlot claimed that Dinesh Binwal, one of the arrested accused in the paper leak case, is a functionary of the BJP. He accused the state government of deliberately delaying the registration of First Information Reports (FIRs) in order to conceal the alleged links between the accused and the ruling party.
In a post on social media platform X, Gehlot stated, “Binwal, the accused in the NEET paper leak case, is an office-bearer of BJP. Is this the reason that the BJP government in Rajasthan attempted to conceal the NEET paper leak and did not register any FIR?” Along with his statement, Gehlot shared a digital poster featuring Binwal, which depicts him as a functionary of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) in the Jaipur Rural district. The poster, which extends Diwali and New Year greetings to residents of the Jamwa-Ramgarh assembly constituency, includes images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, and Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, alongside Binwal’s own photograph. The Times of India could not independently verify the authenticity of the image.
Gehlot, who has been raising questions about the delay since May 11, accused the BJP of protecting the “paper leak mafia” at the expense of students’ futures. He also highlighted irregularities in the conduct of the NEET examinations in 2024, 2025, and 2026, which have caused distress to nearly 22 lakh students appearing for the medical entrance exam. “These people defame the Congress government, but have been exposed themselves,” he said.
BJP distances itself from Binwal
Meanwhile, the Rajasthan BJP distanced itself from Binwal, claiming that he has no connection with the party. State BJP President Madan Rathore accused Gehlot of making baseless allegations. “The person Gehlot ji is referring to is not a BJP worker. In public life, it is common for people to get photographs clicked with political leaders, but it is not appropriate to associate someone with a political party merely on the basis of photographs,” Rathore said. He further asserted that the BJP was not trying to protect anyone involved in the case.
On Wednesday, Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra demanded a judicial or a joint parliamentary committee probe into the roles of Dinesh and Mangilal Binwal, the arrested accused. Rajasthan Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully called for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign over the controversy.
