NEET exam was canceled after a leak, and will be conducted again on June 21. PV Kulkarni, a retired chemistry teacher, allegedly leaked the papers.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested the ‘leader’ behind the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. Investigators found that PV Kulkarni, a retired chemistry teacher, leaked exam papers in Pune through secretly organized coaching sessions days before the national exam on May 3.
National Eligibility Admission Test (NEET-UG, India’s largest medical entrance exam, saw participation of over 22 lakh students. The exam was canceled after allegations of a leak, and will be conducted again on June 21.
How did the leaves come out?
The process began in the last week of April, according to the Central Bank of Iraq. Kulkarni participated with another accused, Manisha Waghmar (arrested on May 14), to gather a group of students.
Instead of distributing electronic copies or printed papers, Kulkarni conducted very exclusive ‘private coaching classes’ out of his home in Pune.
During these sessions, Kulkarni would allegedly dictate questions, multiple choice options and correct answers to the students. The assembled students were asked to write these details by hand in their notebooks.
After the latest recoveries, CBI investigators confirmed that the students’ handwritten notes were an “exact match” with the official office’s actual chemistry department. NEET-UG 2026 exam paper
Who is PV Kulkarni?
PV Kulkarni is from Latur district of Maharashtra and worked as a chemistry faculty member in a reputed college. Officials said he retired about four years ago.
The CBI also claimed that he was linked to the NEET exam process through the National Testing Agency (NTA), which gave him access to confidential question papers. The agency has not publicly disclosed further details about his specific role.
CBI is investigating NEET paper leakage case
The CBI took over the investigation on May 12 after the federal education ministry filed a formal complaint. The case first surfaced in Rajasthan on May 7.
Since then, the agency has conducted raids and inspections across multiple states. Officials said electronic devices, mobile phones and important documents were seized and are currently undergoing forensic and technical analysis.
By May 14, Seven accused were arrested from cities including Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahilyanagar.
The agency said its investigations revealed a network of middlemen who allegedly contacted students and collected several thousand rupees from them to access the leaked material through private classes.
Training institute under the scanner
The CBI also questioned Shivraj Motegaonkar, director of Renukai Chemistry Classes (RCC) in Latur.
A 28-member CBI team visited his residence and continued to question individuals associated with the investigation. Officials have not yet clarified the extent of the relationship between the training institute and the alleged leakage network.
Anita Goswami is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times, where she primarily covers Indian and international news. With four years of experience in the field, she has led coverage of Indian general elections, Assembly elections, and national polls in the US, Canada, Bangladesh and Nepal. Its reports cover world wars and major events, including Operation Sindoor, the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina, and the Mahakumbh Mela. It verifies the facts and uses clear sources to ensure the accuracy of the reports. As a former Editor-in-Chief at Storytailors, she has managed teams to produce high-quality content for networks such as NDTV, Profit, CNBC-TV18, Upstox and News18. Her work has appeared on NDTV, Meaww and Global Pulse. Throughout her tenure, Anita has collaborated with and received mentoring from leading industry experts. When she’s not reading, Anita can be found outside or at a bakery. Areas of interest: Indian political history, international elections, historical policy analysis, global conflicts, cultural events, Formula 1, art, media ethics, reporting on social and political change over time.Read more
