NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak: CBI Arrests Maharashtra Coaching Centre Founder in Expanding Scam Probe

The investigation into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak has intensified after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested a prominent coaching institute founder from Maharashtra, alleging his involvement in a larger organised network responsible for leaking the medical entrance examination paper.

The accused, Shivraj Motegaonkar, founder and director of RCC Coaching Institute in Latur, was arrested following an extensive seven-hour interrogation by the CBI. Investigators claim he played an active role in illegally circulating the leaked NEET-UG question paper and answer sheets before the national-level examination was conducted.

The latest arrest has further deepened concerns surrounding the integrity of one of India’s most important competitive examinations and has also intensified scrutiny on the role of coaching centres and officials allegedly linked to the National Testing Agency (NTA).

CBI Claims Leaked Question Paper Found on Mobile Phone

According to the CBI, a search operation was conducted at Motegaonkar’s residence in Latur on May 14, during which investigators allegedly recovered a copy of the leaked NEET-UG 2026 question paper from his mobile phone. The agency has seized the device for forensic examination and claims the digital evidence strengthens suspicions of a well-coordinated paper leak network operating before the examination.

Investigators allege that Shivraj Motegaonkar conspired with other accused individuals and officials linked to the NTA to obtain and distribute the leaked papers and answer sheets to selected candidates. The agency further stated that handwritten copies of the leaked questions were circulated among multiple individuals in exchange for large sums of money.

However, according to the CBI, the accused has not yet revealed the identities of all those who allegedly received the leaked material.

NEET-UG Exam Cancelled After Leak Allegations

The NEET-UG 2026 examination, conducted on May 3 across the country, was initially completed amid large-scale participation from lakhs of medical aspirants. However, growing allegations of paper leaks and irregularities triggered nationwide outrage. Following preliminary findings and mounting pressure, the National Testing Agency cancelled the examination on May 12.

Authorities have now announced that the re-examination will be held on June 21. The cancellation has caused immense uncertainty and emotional stress among students and families, many of whom had spent years preparing for the highly competitive examination.

Alleged Destruction of Evidence

The CBI has also accused Motegaonkar of attempting to destroy evidence after the examination.

According to investigators, leaked papers and related materials were allegedly destroyed once the examination concluded in an effort to eliminate traces of the conspiracy.

The agency believes this was part of a deliberate attempt to obstruct the investigation and conceal the larger network involved in the operation. The accused has been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

The charges include criminal conspiracy, cheating, destruction of evidence, corruption-related offences, and unfair practices linked to public examinations.

Maharashtra Emerges as Key Centre in Investigation

As the investigation progresses, Maharashtra has emerged as a major focal point in the expanding NEET-UG paper leak case. Before the arrest of Shivraj Motegaonkar, the CBI had already arrested several other accused individuals allegedly connected to the leak network.

Among them are PV Kulkarni, Manisha Mandhare, and Manisha Waghmare.

Investigators suspect that some of these accused individuals acted as intermediaries between insiders with access to examination material and coaching institutions or students willing to pay for leaked content. According to CBI sources, Mandhare allegedly collaborated with Waghmare and Kulkarni to distribute examination-related material to selected students in return for significant financial gains.

Suspicion of an Inside Link Within NTA

One of the most serious aspects of the investigation is the alleged involvement of an unnamed NTA official.

The CBI claims that one of the accused received question papers and answer keys nearly a week before the examination through contacts connected to the examination system. This possibility of insider involvement has raised major questions about the security protocols followed by the National Testing Agency.

Investigators are now examining whether sensitive examination materials were accessed, copied, or circulated through internal loopholes within the system. If proven, the case could expose serious vulnerabilities in the conduct of large-scale national examinations.

Coaching Centres Under Scanner

The alleged involvement of coaching institutions has once again reignited debate around the growing commercialisation of competitive exam preparation in India.

Coaching hubs such as Latur, Kota, Hyderabad, and Delhi have long been central to India’s entrance examination culture. While many institutes operate legitimately, repeated allegations of malpractice in recent years have damaged public trust. The NEET-UG paper leak case has intensified concerns that some institutions may be exploiting desperate students and parents by offering illegal access to examination material.

Investigators are now probing whether a larger network of coaching operators, middlemen, and insiders worked together to profit from the leak.

Impact on Students and Public Trust

The cancellation of the NEET-UG examination has affected lakhs of aspirants across India.

For many students, NEET represents years of preparation, financial investment, and emotional pressure. The leak allegations and cancellation have therefore triggered frustration, anxiety, and anger among candidates and parents.

Social media has been flooded with demands for stricter examination safeguards and accountability for those involved. Students have also raised concerns about fairness, questioning whether genuine aspirants were placed at a disadvantage due to organised cheating networks.

The controversy has once again highlighted the enormous pressure surrounding entrance examinations in India and the vulnerabilities that emerge when high-stakes testing systems are compromised.

Government Announces Major Reform

In response to the scandal, the government has announced that NEET-UG examinations will move fully online from 2027 onward.

Officials believe digital testing systems may reduce the risk of physical paper leaks and improve security monitoring. However, experts caution that online examinations will also require robust cybersecurity systems and transparent monitoring mechanisms to prevent new forms of malpractice.

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The government is expected to review examination security procedures, transportation systems for question papers, digital surveillance protocols, and coordination between agencies involved in conducting national-level tests.

Larger Questions Over Examination Integrity

The NEET-UG paper leak controversy has evolved beyond a single criminal case. It has now become a larger debate about trust in India’s competitive examination system.

Repeated allegations of leaks in recruitment exams, entrance tests, and public examinations over recent years have raised concerns about systemic weaknesses. The alleged links between coaching centres, intermediaries, and officials have added to fears that organised cheating networks may be exploiting gaps in examination administration.

For students preparing honestly, such incidents can deeply damage confidence in the fairness of the system. The ongoing CBI investigation is therefore being closely watched not only for arrests and prosecutions, but also for what it may reveal about deeper institutional failures.

The CBI is continuing raids, interrogations, and forensic analysis as it attempts to uncover the full scope of the NEET-UG paper leak operation. Investigators are expected to examine financial transactions, communication records, and digital evidence to identify additional accused persons and possible institutional links.

With more arrests likely in the coming days, the case could emerge as one of the biggest examination fraud scandals in recent years. For now, lakhs of students await the rescheduled examination date while the investigation continues to expose new layers of the alleged conspiracy.