In a major breakthrough that has sent shockwaves through India’s medical entrance ecosystem, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested the mastermind behind the NEET-UG 2026 Chemistry paper leak.
The accused, Sh. P.V. Kulkarni, a Chemistry Lecturer with direct access to the National Testing Agency (NTA) question papers, allegedly ran a high-priced “special coaching” racket from his residence in Pune just weeks before the exam.
According to the CBI, Kulkarni, originally from Latur, joined hands with another accused, Manisha Waghmare (arrested on 14 May 2026), to mobilise select students. In the last week of April 2026, he conducted exclusive coaching sessions at his Pune home, where he calmly dictated the exact questions, options, and correct answers of the Chemistry paper. Students frantically copied everything into their notebooks. When the actual NEET-UG 2026 exam was held on 3 May 2026, those handwritten notes matched the real question paper word-for-word.
The CBI registered the case on 12 May 2026 following a formal complaint by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education. Within days, special teams fanned out across the country. In the last 24 hours alone, the agency conducted multiple raids, seizing incriminating documents, electronic gadgets, and mobile phones that are now undergoing forensic analysis.
Till date, eight accused have been arrested from Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune, and Ahilyanagar. Five have already been remanded to seven days’ police custody, while the remaining two were produced in Pune court today for transit remand to Delhi. Investigators say the middlemen charged several lakhs of rupees from desperate students for a seat in Kulkarni’s “sure-shot” classes.
The arrest of Kulkarni is being seen as the biggest catch so far in the scandal. “The investigation has now clearly established the actual source of the Chemistry paper leak and the network that profited from it,” a CBI spokesperson said.
The agency has vowed to continue the probe with full vigour to ensure that every link in the chain—from paper setters to beneficiaries—is exposed.
For over 20 lakh NEET aspirants and their families, the news brings a bitter mix of relief and outrage. While the kingpin is now behind bars, questions are being raised about how someone with official access to the papers could operate so brazenly. The CBI has assured the nation of a “comprehensive, impartial and professional investigation.
