The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a chemistry lecturer from Pune who is believed to be one of the main accused in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case.
The arrest is being seen as a significant development in the investigation into alleged irregularities linked to the national medical entrance exam.
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#WATCH | Pune, Maharashtra: On the arrest of the accused in the NEET(UG) exam paper leak case, Prof. Dr Nivedita Gajanan Ekbote, Principal, Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, says, "I got to know about this from the media, only that the senior teacher Manisha Waghmare… pic.twitter.com/Ay1Cftbkoz
— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2026
Behind closed doors
According to the CBI, the accused, P.V. Kulkarni, was involved in the examination process through the National Testing Agency (NTA) and allegedly had access to confidential question papers.
Investigators claim Kulkarni held special coaching sessions for a select group of students at his Pune residence in the final week of April, just days before the NEET-UG exam held on May 3.
A most improper tutorial by all accounts
The agency said these sessions were allegedly arranged with the help of Manisha Waghmare, another accused who had already been arrested in the case.
The CBI alleges that during the sessions, Kulkarni shared questions, multiple-choice options and correct answers with students. Investigators also claimed that handwritten notes recovered from some students matched the actual NEET-UG 2026 question paper.
Kulkarni, who hails from Latur, was taken into custody in Pune after several rounds of questioning. The agency has since conducted searches at different locations across the country and seized mobile phones, electronic devices and documents for forensic analysis.
Officials said the technical examination of the seized material is still underway.
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NEET row: Rajasthan BJP chief hits back, cites Gehlot aide's arrest in paper leak
— NationPress (@np_nationpress) May 16, 2026
Rajasthan BJP chief Madan Rathore hits back at Congress over NEET paper leak, citing the arrest of former RPSC chairman — a close Gehlot aide — in a separate leak case.https://t.co/9ZydF5eOly pic.twitter.com/ynD6qIorrN
Inquiry grows rather crowded
The CBI formally registered the case on May 12 following a complaint by the Department of Higher Education under the Union Education Ministry over the alleged paper leak.
Since then, arrests have been made in several states, including Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Haryana.
Investigators suspect that middlemen charged students lakhs of rupees to gain access to the leaked material and attend the coaching sessions.
The probe is also looking into whether more people connected to the examination system were involved. The agency is examining the possibility of internal lapses and a larger network behind the leak.
A Delhi court has sent Kulkarni and co-accused Manisha Waghmare to CBI custody for further questioning as investigators continue tracking the alleged money trail and distribution network linked to the case.
