New Delhi: CBI on Monday arrested 'another key accused' Prof Shivaraj Motegaonkar, owner of RCC Coaching Institute from Latur, for his alleged involvement in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.
It has so far arrested 10 individuals in the case. The agency said Motegaonkar runs an institute which coaches students for NEET-UG examinations. It has nine branches, with the main branch at Latur.
The agency has alleged that Motegaonkar is close to PV Kulkarni, the chemistry lecturer and the alleged 'kingpin' in the case. CBI claimed that searches conducted at Motegaonkar's institute and residence resulted in the recovery of a chemistry question bank which contained exactly the same questions that appeared in the NEET exam held on May 3.
In the last 24 hours, the agency claims to have conducted searches at five locations and seized several incriminating documents, laptops and mobile phones. Detailed analysis of the seized items is going on, the agency said.
"Investigation is continuing with the special teams and the investigation conducted so far has brought out the actual source of the leakage of chemistry and biology papers which were circulated before the exam," CBI said. "Further, the middlemen involved in mobilising students who paid lakhs of rupees to attend the special coaching classes where the questions, which would come in the NEET UG-2026 exam, were dictated and discussed have also been arrested," the agency's statement added.
The agency on Sunday, while seeking custodial interrogation of a co-accused Manisha Mandhare, submitted before a special CBI court that her custody was required "to unearth the larger conspiracy and source of the leaked NEET-UG 2026 question paper". It submitted that Mandhare needs to be taken to various parts of the country to "identify and apprehend the co-accused to recover and analyse the digital devices and evidence and financial trail connected to NEET-UG 2026".
The CBI counsel had told the court on Sunday that the "entire NTA process" and alleged involvement of NTA officials behind the leak are under CBI scanner. Underlining the "larger conspiracy" in this case, the agency had submitted that other members of "this syndicate" need to be identified and arrested.
In its remand paper filed last week, CBI maintained that in April, Mangilal Biwal, a co-accused from Jaipur, had approached Shubham of Nashik for arranging question papers before the exam for his younger son for ₹10-12 lakh who, in turn, informed Yash Yadav, a co-accused.
On April 29, Shubham asked Yash Yadav to arrange original class 10 and 12 documents, NEET roll number details and a cheque from Mangilal as security deposit. On April 29, Shubham allegedly informed Yash Yadav that he would provide leaked question papers of Physics, Chemistry and Biology having 500-600 questions ensuring good marks and admission in reputed medical colleges. Another co-accused Dhananjay Lokhande, known to Shubham, collected NEET exam material for 2026 from co-accused Manisha Waghmare, Pune. He received the leaked paper from Waghmare and transmitted it to Shubham.
CBI claims to have recovered the WhatsApp chats of Yash Yadav with Shubham from the mobile phone of Yash Yadav. Shubham deleted the incriminating chat but was seized for forensic examination, the agency told the court. It is alleged that Yash Yadav had circulated the question paper to the co-accused for monetary gains.
It has so far arrested 10 individuals in the case. The agency said Motegaonkar runs an institute which coaches students for NEET-UG examinations. It has nine branches, with the main branch at Latur.
The agency has alleged that Motegaonkar is close to PV Kulkarni, the chemistry lecturer and the alleged 'kingpin' in the case. CBI claimed that searches conducted at Motegaonkar's institute and residence resulted in the recovery of a chemistry question bank which contained exactly the same questions that appeared in the NEET exam held on May 3.
In the last 24 hours, the agency claims to have conducted searches at five locations and seized several incriminating documents, laptops and mobile phones. Detailed analysis of the seized items is going on, the agency said.
"Investigation is continuing with the special teams and the investigation conducted so far has brought out the actual source of the leakage of chemistry and biology papers which were circulated before the exam," CBI said. "Further, the middlemen involved in mobilising students who paid lakhs of rupees to attend the special coaching classes where the questions, which would come in the NEET UG-2026 exam, were dictated and discussed have also been arrested," the agency's statement added.
The agency on Sunday, while seeking custodial interrogation of a co-accused Manisha Mandhare, submitted before a special CBI court that her custody was required "to unearth the larger conspiracy and source of the leaked NEET-UG 2026 question paper". It submitted that Mandhare needs to be taken to various parts of the country to "identify and apprehend the co-accused to recover and analyse the digital devices and evidence and financial trail connected to NEET-UG 2026".
The CBI counsel had told the court on Sunday that the "entire NTA process" and alleged involvement of NTA officials behind the leak are under CBI scanner. Underlining the "larger conspiracy" in this case, the agency had submitted that other members of "this syndicate" need to be identified and arrested.
In its remand paper filed last week, CBI maintained that in April, Mangilal Biwal, a co-accused from Jaipur, had approached Shubham of Nashik for arranging question papers before the exam for his younger son for ₹10-12 lakh who, in turn, informed Yash Yadav, a co-accused.
On April 29, Shubham asked Yash Yadav to arrange original class 10 and 12 documents, NEET roll number details and a cheque from Mangilal as security deposit. On April 29, Shubham allegedly informed Yash Yadav that he would provide leaked question papers of Physics, Chemistry and Biology having 500-600 questions ensuring good marks and admission in reputed medical colleges. Another co-accused Dhananjay Lokhande, known to Shubham, collected NEET exam material for 2026 from co-accused Manisha Waghmare, Pune. He received the leaked paper from Waghmare and transmitted it to Shubham.
CBI claims to have recovered the WhatsApp chats of Yash Yadav with Shubham from the mobile phone of Yash Yadav. Shubham deleted the incriminating chat but was seized for forensic examination, the agency told the court. It is alleged that Yash Yadav had circulated the question paper to the co-accused for monetary gains.
