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CBI arrests main accused in 2026 NEET-UG paper leak case
The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested the main accused in the alleged paper leak in the 2026 undergraduate National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, said the Union government on Friday.
In a press release, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions identified the alleged “kingpin” as PV Kulkarni, a chemistry lecturer involved in the examination process on behalf of the National Testing Agency.
Kulkarni, who is from Maharashtra's Latur, was arrested in Pune, it added.
On Tuesday, the National Testing Agency, which conducts the exam, cancelled the 2026 NEET-UG following allegations of a paper leak. The exam is conducted for admission to undergraduate medical courses in India.
This year, more than 22 lakh candidates had appeared for the test.
The CBI filed a first information report in the matter based on a complaint by the Union Ministry of Education. The central agency has arrested at least seven persons till now and conducted searches at several locations in the country.
On Friday, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions claimed that Kulkarni had access to the question papers.
“During the last week of April 2026, he allegedly mobilised students with the help of another accused, Ms Manisha Waghmare, who was arrested by CBI on 14.05.2026, and conducted special coaching classes for these students at his residence in Pune,” read the ministry’s press release.
It added that Kulkarni allegedly dictated the questions along with options and correct answers during the special coaching classes.
“The questions so dictated were handwritten by students in their notebooks and have exactly tallied with the actual question paper of the NEET-UG 2026 Examination held on 03.05.2026,” stated the ministry.
It further said that the investigation conducted so far has brought out the “actual source of the chemistry paper leak as well as the role of middlemen involved in mobilising students who allegedly paid several lakhs of rupees to attend the special coaching classes where the question banks were dictated and discussed”.
The ministry also said that the CBI had conducted searches at several locations and seized incriminating documents, electronic gadgets and mobile phones.
Detailed forensic and technical analysis of the seized items is underway, it added.
The ministry noted that of the seven already arrested by the central agency in the case, five had been produced before a court and remanded to seven days’ police custody for questioning.
“The other two accused, who were arrested yesterday, are being produced before the court in Pune for transit remand and are being shifted to Delhi,” it said.
The test on May 3 was cancelled after the Rajasthan Special Operations Group began investigating allegations that a “guess paper” circulated before the examination contained questions closely matching the actual paper.
The “guess paper” contained around 410 questions, of which about 120 matched the questions asked in the chemistry section, according to the Rajasthan Police.
Earlier on Friday, the National Testing Agency announced that the re-exam for the 2026 NEET-UG will be held on June 21.
At a press conference, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said there was a “breach” in the command chain for the May 3 test. “We accept it and take responsibility to improve it,” added Pradhan.
He also announced that NEET-UG will be computer-based from next year.
Written by Leah Thomas. Edited by Sneha.
Source: Scroll
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