Mumbai, May 18: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, the director of a coaching center in Maharashtra, in connection with the NEET UG 2026 paper leak case. This brings the total number of arrests in the investigation to ten.
According to CBI sources, Motegaonkar, who allegedly ran coaching classes in Latur, played a significant role in the purported NEET paper leak network. He was taken into custody for questioning before being formally arrested by the agency.
Sources indicate that the CBI may soon release an official statement regarding this latest arrest. This development comes amid a nationwide investigation into the alleged leak of the NEET UG 2026 exam paper, which led to widespread outrage and the cancellation of the exam scheduled for May 3.
Meanwhile, a Delhi court has remanded Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, an accused in the NEET paper leak case, to CBI custody for 14 days. Mandhare, a senior botany teacher appointed by the NTA, is suspected of being involved in the conspiracy to leak the biology question paper. Chemistry professor P.V. Kulkarni is believed to be the mastermind behind the paper leak.
During the hearing at the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi, the CBI informed the bench that Mandhare was skilled in translating botany and zoology question papers and had access to the NEET UG biology paper.
The CBI alleged that Mandhare conspired with P.V. Kulkarni and Manisha Waghmare, who was arrested earlier this month. She reportedly provided the question paper to another accused, Shubham. Investigations are ongoing across the country, necessitating her transport to various locations for questioning.
The agency further claimed that Mandhare had recruited potential NEET candidates through Pune-based consultant Manisha Waghmare and organized special coaching sessions for students at her home in Pune.
According to the CBI, during these classes, she allegedly disclosed several biology questions to students, instructing them to note them down in their books. Investigators assert that most of these questions matched those in the actual NEET UG 2026 question paper.
Previously, nine accused individuals had been arrested from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune, and Ahlayangar in this case. Five of these accused have already been presented in court and have been placed under a seven-day police remand for detailed questioning. Two other accused, arrested on Friday, were presented in a Pune court and were sent to Delhi after obtaining a transit remand.