NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak: CBI Arrests Maharashtra Lecturer Accused of Sharing Chemistry Questions

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a chemistry lecturer from Maharashtra in connection with the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, claiming to have traced the original source of the leaked Chemistry question paper linked to the national medical entrance examination.

The accused, identified as P.V. Kulkarni, was associated with the examination process on behalf of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and allegedly had access to confidential question papers, officials said.

According to the CBI, investigations revealed that during the last week of April, Kulkarni allegedly conducted special coaching sessions for selected students at his residence in Pune. During these sessions, he reportedly dictated Chemistry questions, multiple-choice options and correct answers related to the NEET-UG 2026 examination.

Investigators said the students noted down the questions and answers in notebooks, which were later found to match exactly with the actual Chemistry paper used in the NEET-UG examination held on May 3.

The agency alleged that the students were brought in with the help of another accused, Manisha Waghmare, who was arrested on May 14.

Kulkarni, a resident of Maharashtra’s Latur district, was arrested in Pune after prolonged questioning by CBI officials.

The agency also conducted raids at multiple locations across the country over the past 24 hours. During the searches, officials seized several documents, electronic devices and mobile phones suspected to be linked to the case. The seized materials are currently undergoing forensic and technical examination.

The CBI registered the case on May 12 following a written complaint from the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education regarding the alleged leak of the NEET-UG 2026 examination paper.

Following the FIR, the agency formed multiple special investigation teams and launched coordinated searches nationwide. Several suspects were detained and questioned as part of the ongoing probe.

So far, seven accused have been arrested from Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahilyanagar. Officials said five of them have already been produced before a court and remanded to seven days of police custody.

The remaining two accused, arrested on Thursday, are expected to be produced before a Pune court for transit remand before being shifted to Delhi.

CBI officials said the investigation is continuing and that the source of the Chemistry paper leak, along with the network of middlemen involved in arranging students for the alleged coaching sessions, has now been identified.

With inputs from IANS