NEET Paper Leak: CBI Arrests alleged Mastermind in Pune; Accused PV Kulkarni is a Chemistry Professor

Pune: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken significant action in the NEET-UG question paper leak case. The CBI has identified the alleged mastermind behind the case and has placed him under arrest. The agency arrested the professor in Pune, Maharashtra. According to CBI officials, the arrested professor—identified as P.V. Kulkarni—is a resident of Latur and a subject expert in Chemistry. He had served as a member of the committee responsible for setting the NEET examination question papers for several years.

Was the Arrest Made in Pune?

The CBI team stated that Professor Kulkarni was arrested at his residence in Pune. Officials revealed that, by virtue of having access to the question papers, Professor Kulkarni conducted special coaching classes at his home. An official privy to the investigation disclosed that during the last week of April 2026, Professor Kulkarni, with the assistance of another accused individual—Manisha Waghmare—had organized a group of students. Manisha Waghmare had previously been arrested by the CBI on May 14.

Were Correct Answers Dictated to Students?

The official further explained that, during these special coaching sessions, Professor Kulkarni allegedly dictated the questions, their respective options, and the correct answers to the students. The official added that the students manually transcribed these questions into their notebooks, and these questions were found to match exactly with the actual question paper of the NEET-UG 2026 examination held on May 3.

When Did Kulkarni Retire?

Officials stated that Kulkarni had retired four years ago from a reputed college and was a member of the committee responsible for formulating the Chemistry section of the NEET question papers. The NEET-UG 2026 examination—conducted for admission into undergraduate medical courses—was originally held on May 3; however, following allegations of a question paper leak, the examination was cancelled on May 12. Subsequently, the government directed the CBI to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the entire matter.

Was Director of Prominent Coaching Center Also Questioned?

Meanwhile, the CBI also questioned the director of a prominent coaching center in the city of Latur, Maharashtra, on Friday. As part of its investigation into the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2026 question paper leak case, a CBI team visited the residence of Shivraj Motegaonkar—Director of Renukai Chemistry Classes (RCC)—located at Omkar Residency in the Shivnagar area, on Thursday night and again in the early hours of Friday.

Did CBI Set Up Base in Latur?

A CBI team, comprising 28 members, is currently camping in Latur. When media personnel asked a CBI official—who was exiting Motegaonkar's residence around 12:30 PM on Friday—about the investigation, the official declined to comment.

Was Complaint Filed Against Coaching Institute?

The matter came to light after the parent of a student filed a complaint on Tuesday at the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Latur. The complainant alleged that 42 questions asked in a 'mock test' conducted by a private coaching institute in the city matched the questions that appeared in the actual NEET examination. Based on this complaint, SP Amol Tambe directed Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Sameersingh Salve to investigate the matter.

How Many Individuals Were Questioned?

In connection with this case, the police have questioned six individuals in Latur, including staff members of the coaching institute, students, and counselors. Additionally, they have seized CCTV footage from two coaching centers. Prior to the arrest of Kulkarni in Latur, the CBI had taken three individuals into custody from various parts of Maharashtra: Shubham Khairnar (30) from Nashik, beautician Manisha Waghmare from Pune, and Dhananjay Lokhande (26) from Rahuri in Ahilyanagar.