3 min readMumbai, New DelhiUpdated: May 15, 2026 09:28 PM IST
As part of its probe into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, the Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Pune-based chemistry lecturer, who was allegedly involved in the examination process on behalf of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and had access to the question papers. The CBI is also learnt to have asked the Ministry of Education to provide a list of persons involved in the procedure of preparing the question papers.
According to the CBI, the agency has arrested P V Kulkarni and identified him as the “source of NEET-UG 2026 examination paper leaks”. “The probe has revealed that Kulkarni was involved in the process of examination on behalf of NTA. He had access to the question papers, and he organised special coaching sessions at his Pune residence during the last week of April 2026, in which students were allegedly mobilised and taught the leaked material,” the spokesperson said.
Kulkarni was arrested in Pune following interrogation and taken to Delhi. The CBI said students allegedly paid several lakhs to attend the special coaching classes, where the leaked questions were dictated and discussed.
The CBI has also arrested another person, including one Manisha Waghmare, from Pune. “Kulkarni had organised special coaching classes with the help of Waghmare. He dictated the questions along with options and the correct answers during these special coaching classes, and the questions were handwritten by students in their notebooks and have exactly tallied with the actual question paper of NEET-UG 2026 examination held on May 3,” the spokesperson alleged.
The agency had registered the case on May 12 following a written complaint from the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education. The CBI then formed special teams and launched coordinated searches and arrests at multiple locations.
“In the past 24 hours, searches were conducted at several sites across the country, leading to seizure of incriminating documents, electronic devices and mobile phones,” the official said.
So far, seven accused have been arrested from Jaipur, Gurgaon, Nashik, Pune and Ahliyanagar. Five of them have already been produced before courts and remanded to seven-day police custody for detailed interrogation. Two suspects arrested most recently are being produced in Pune for transit remand and will be shifted to Delhi courts, the CBI said.
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The CBI also questioned Shivraj Motegaokar, who runs the Latur-based RCC Coaching Classes chain, for nearly 11 hours on Thursday.
Motegaokar’s chain has branches across Maharashtra and is among the prominent coaching institutes for medical entrance examinations. Investigators are examining allegations that “mock question papers” circulated at his coaching classes contained questions that later appeared in the NEET-UG examination.
The probe has put the spotlight on Latur’s large coaching industry, which has, over the years, emerged as one of Maharashtra’s largest centres for medical and engineering entrance coaching, with students travelling from different districts to prepare for competitive examinations.
