CBI arrests NTA-linked professor and others over alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak

The CBI has arrested a Latur-based doctor and a member of the physics faculty of a coaching institute in Pune in the NEET UG paper leak case, officials said on Wednesday. The agency arrested Manoj Shirure for allegedly playing a key role in facilitating three students, including the son of Renukai Career Centre (RCC) founder Shivraj Motegaonkar, in getting the chemistry questions from NEET paper setter P V Kulkarni, they said. Motegaonkar, who ran the RCC in Latur, was recently arrested in the case. The agency also arrested Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, a physics teacher at Dr Abhang Prabhu Medical Academy (APMA), a Pune-based coaching centre, the officials said. Shah allegedly received the leaked physics questions for NEET UG 2026 from arrested accused Manisha Havaldar, they said. With this, the total number of arrests made in the paper leak case went up to 13, the officials said. "The investigation to unearth the chain as well as the conspiracy in this case is ongoing. The CBI has s

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested two additional individuals in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, bringing the total number of arrests to 13, according to an official statement released by the CBI.The newly arrested individuals include a doctor from Latur and a faculty member from a Pune-based coaching institute. According to the statement, Dr Manoj Shirure, a Latur-based doctor, was arrested for his role in facilitating three students--including the son of an accused coaching centre owner--in obtaining leaked Chemistry questions from accused PV Kulkarni.The second arrest involves Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, a Physics faculty member at the Dr Abhang Prabhu Medical Academy (APMA), a coaching centre in Pune. The statement noted that he had obtained the leaked Physics questions from another arrested accused, Manisha Havaldar.Providing details on the ongoing investigation, the CBI stated, "Investigation to unearth the chain as well as the conspiracy in this case is ongoing. CBI has so far conducted searches at 49 locations in various places and seized several incriminating documents, Laptops, and mobile phones. Detailed analysis of the seized items is going on."The agency recalled that the case was registered on May 12, 2026, following a formal complaint from the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education. Since then, special teams were formed, and searches were conducted at various locations across the country, and several suspects were picked up and interrogated."So far, 13 accused have been arrested in this case from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nasik, Pune, Latur and Ahliyanagar. Investigation is continuing with various special teams working in tandem, and the investigation has brought out the actual source of the leakage of Chemistry, Biology and Physics questions which were circulated before the exam," the statement added.The CBI reaffirmed its commitment to a comprehensive, impartial, and professional probe into the matter.This comes after NEET-UG 2026, which was conducted on May 3 by the National Testing Agency (NTA), was cancelled on May 12 following allegations of a coordinated paper leak.The examination was held across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad at over 5,400 centres, with more than 22 lakh candidates appearing for the test.The re-examination is scheduled for June 21 under enhanced security measures mandated by the Union Education Ministry.

The CBI is also considering making a Latur-based paediatrician a witness in the case. The doctor is accused of purchasing the leaked question paper for his son.

Latur-based paediatrician Dr Manoj Shirure, who allegedly purchased the leaked NEET question paper for his son before the May 3 examination, has been arrested.

The CBI has arrested Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar who runs the Renukai Chemistry Classes (RCC) in Maharashtra's Latur city in the NEET UG paper leak case, officials said on Monday. A leaked question paper for the medical entrance exam was found on Motengaonkar' phone mobile during searches conducted by the agency on Sunday. He was arrested after that. The CBI has alleged that Motegaonkar was an active member of the organised gang involved in the leakage and circulation of the NEET UG paper, the officials said. Motegaonkar in conspiracy with other accused received the question paper and answers of NEET UG Exam, 2026 ahead of April 23, 2026 exam, they said. He allegedly circulated the paper to several persons.