CBI Arrests NTA-Linked Lecturer in NEET Paper Leak Case, Says Question Paper Was Shared in Tuition Class

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Pune-based Chemistry lecturer for his alleged role as the “kingpin” in the NEET-UG 2026 question paper leak case.

That ultimately led to the cancellation of the medical entrance examination. The agency claims the accused shared questions and answers with aspirants during a covert tuition session. The accused, PV Kulkarni, was associated with the examination process on behalf of the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducted the now-cancelled test held on May 3. According to the CBI, his involvement in paper-setting for previous years gave him access to sensitive examination material.

Officials said Kulkarni is a retired college professor and was taken into custody after questioning on Thursday, May 14. Another accused, Manisha Waghmare, was also arrested in connection with the case.

The CBI alleged that Kulkarni, along with Waghmare, circulated the leaked questions and correct answers to a group of NEET-UG aspirants during a secret coaching session held at his residence in Pune in the last week of April. The students reportedly paid several lakhs of rupees to attend the session.

“The chemistry lecturer dictated the questions, multiple-choice options, and correct answers during the special coaching class. Students noted them in their notebooks, and these questions were later found to exactly match the NEET-UG 2026 paper,” the CBI said in a statement, adding that the investigation has identified the source of the Chemistry paper leak.

Seven arrested so far in multi-state probe

The CBI has arrested seven people so far in the widening investigation, which spans multiple states. Among them are Mangi Lal and Dinesh Biwal, relatives from Rajasthan’s Jaipur district who were earlier in custody of the state police before being taken over by the CBI.

Investigators allege the duo played a key role in a wider network that circulated leaked papers through coaching hubs in Sikar. Police sources also claim the family had been involved in leaking and selling entrance exam papers in previous years.

According to officials, Mangi Lal and Dinesh Biwal not only supplied this year’s paper to coaching centres but had also allegedly obtained and distributed medical entrance papers in earlier cycles.

NEET-UG 2026 cancellation and probe

The NEET-UG 2026 examination, held on May 3, saw nearly 22 lakh candidates appear for admission to undergraduate medical courses. The National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the exam on May 12 amid rising allegations of a paper leak and ongoing police investigations in Rajasthan.

The Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) had initially flagged irregularities, suggesting that handwritten “guess papers” prepared by tutors closely matched the actual question paper. Investigators later found that all 90 Biology questions and all 45 Chemistry questions reportedly appeared in a 281-question practice set circulated before the exam.

The NEET-UG paper comprises 180 questions in total, each carrying four marks.