Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, May 18: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested the founder and director of a coaching institute in Maharashtra’s Latur in connection with the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case after a seven-hour-long interrogation.
The arrested accused has been identified as Shivraj Motegaonkar, founder of RCC Coaching Institute. According to the CBI, he was an active member of an organised gang involved in illegally circulating the NEET-UG question paper.
The agency stated that Motegaonkar allegedly colluded with other accused persons to obtain the NEET-UG question paper and answer keys on April 23, ahead of the nationwide examination conducted on May 3.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the examination on May 12 following reports of a paper leak. The re-examination is scheduled to be held on June 21.
During a search operation conducted at Motegaonkar’s residence in Latur on May 14, the CBI reportedly recovered the leaked NEET-UG 2026 question paper from his mobile phone. The device has been seized and sent for forensic examination.
The investigation agency further alleged that the accused conspired with other gang members and certain officials linked to the NTA to distribute copies of the leaked question papers and answer sheets to several candidates.
The CBI claimed that Motegaonkar failed to reveal the identities of all recipients who received handwritten copies of the leaked papers. The agency also alleged that he destroyed the leaked documents after the examination to eliminate evidence.
He has been booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra has emerged as a major focus in the ongoing investigation. Earlier, the CBI had arrested PV Kulkarni, Manisha Mandhare and Manisha Waghmare in connection with the case. Kulkarni and Mandhare are suspected to be the masterminds behind the alleged leak.
According to CBI sources, Mandhare, along with Waghmare and Kulkarni, allegedly supplied examination-related questions to selected students in exchange for huge sums of money.
The agency is also probing the possibility of involvement of an insider from the NTA. Investigators alleged that Waghmare, in conspiracy with other accused and an unidentified NTA official, received the question papers and answer keys nearly a week before the examination.
Amid the controversy, the Union government has announced that the NEET-UG examination will be conducted fully online from 2027.
The alleged nexus between coaching institutes, middlemen and officials has raised serious concerns over the credibility and security of one of India’s largest medical entrance examinations.