Bengaluru: A 24-year-old native of Kasargod, who worked as an automobile engineer in Dubai, was found dead in a hotel in Karnataka’s Mangaluru, according to the police, soon after his sister died by suicide two months ago after the NEET paper was leaked.
Arjun Mahesh, from Pallikara in Kerala, an employee of Nissan in Dubai, was found hanging in his room in at the Sky Grand Empire Hotel, Maravoor, Monday. Mangalore City Police Commissioner said they found a note near Arjun’s body.
“Amma, I’m sorry,” the note read, adding that he wanted a couple of his friends informed.
Arjun had arrived in Maravoor from Dubai Sunday, the police said, without informing his family.
Arjun’s sister Ayja Mahesh, 19, was found hanging in a hostel in Kottayam district’s Pala on June 2. She died a day later.
At the time of Ayja’s death, her mother had said that her daughter was troubled after the NEET paper was leaked and the exam cancelled. She also reportedly said at the time that her daughter had returned to the hostel because she was unable to focus on her studies at home.
“His sister died two months ago and Arjun was unable to come to terms with the loss,” one police official from Bajpe Police Station claimed in a conversation with ThePrint.
A case of unnatural death has been filed at the Bajpe Police station and the body was handed over to the family Monday.
The NEET examination is among the most demanding and challenging academic pursuits in the country. The NEET paper leak earlier this year added to the anxiety of students, forcing some of them to take the extreme step.
At least 21 students died by suicide in the aftermath of the NEET paper leak, according to multiple media reports and claims made by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) which protested against the leaks last month.
ThePrint travelled across the country to meet the families of 16 of these students, documenting how they are living with their memories, loss, anger, guilt and unanswered questions.
The CJP demanded the resignation/sacking of then education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and Rs 1 crore compensation to the family of each NEET aspirant who died by suicide following the NEET 2026 paper leak.
The issue has dominated political discourse inside and outside Parliament, with the Opposition demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s apology.
The Prime Minister has since announced the constitution of a high-powered task force, headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, to carry out reforms for examinations conducted by the NTA.
The announcement came after month-long protests by the CJP, lathi charge on agitating students, and finally Pradhan’s resignation.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has since replaced Pradhan as education minister.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: Entry logs, CCTV footage, WhatsApp chats—How CBI pieced together NEET-UG 2026 paper leak jigsaw