New Delhi. In the latest update to NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Chemistry lecturer PV Kulkarni. Kulkarni has been arrested from Pune after thorough interrogation. He is originally from Latur. According to CBI, the chemistry lecturer is the mastermind of the entire operation.
Kulkarni was involved in the examination process on behalf of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and had access to the question papers. During the last week of April 2026, he had collected the students with the help of another accused Manisha Waghmare. Manisha was arrested by the CBI a day earlier on May 14.
The agency alleged that Kulkarni conducted special coaching classes for select students at his residence in Pune, where he dictated questions with options and correct answers. The handwritten questions in the notebooks of the students were found to match exactly with the actual question paper of the NEET-UG 2026 exam held on May 3.
In the last 24 hours, CBI has also conducted searches at several places across the country and seized incriminating documents, electronic gadgets and mobile phones. Detailed forensic and technical analysis of the seized items is currently underway. The CBI had registered the case on May 12 on a written complaint by the Department of Higher Education under the Education Ministry regarding the paper leak.
After this, special teams were formed and raids were conducted at many places and many suspects were detained and interrogated. So far, seven accused have been arrested from Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahilyanagar. Five of these accused have already been produced in the court and have been sent to seven-day police custody for detailed interrogation.
The two accused arrested on Wednesday are being produced in a Pune court for transit remand. After this he will be transferred to Delhi. The investigation has so far revealed the alleged source of the chemistry paper leak and the involvement of middlemen who rallied the students after collecting lakhs of rupees for special coaching sessions. In these sessions, leaked question banks were written and discussed.
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