NEET-UG paper leak case: CBI arrests kingpin

The CBI has arrested kingpin who was the source of NEET-UG 2026 Examination paper leaks. According to the agency statement, during the investigation, it was revealed that  P.V. Kulkarni, Chemistry Lecturer involved in the process of examination on behalf of NTA and he had access to the question papers. During the last week of April, 2026, he had mobilized students, with the help of another accused namely Manisha Waghmare who was arrested on Thursday by CBI. He conducted special coaching classes for these students at his residence in Pune, the statement read.
It further said, he dictated the questions along with options and the correct answers during these special coaching classes and the questions were handwritten by students in their notebooks and have exactly tallied with the actual question paper of NEET-UG 2026 Examination held on May 03,2026. Kulkarni has been arrested at Pune after thorough interrogation. He originally belongs to Latur. 
In the last 24 hours, CBI has also conducted searches at several locations across the country and seized several incriminating documents, electronic gadgets and mobile phones. Detailed forensic and technical analysis of the seized items is going on. The agency has so far arrested 07 accused from Jaipur, Gurugram, Nasik, Pune and Ahliyanagar. The CBI has brought out the actual source of the leakage of Chemistry paper as well as the middlemen involved in mobilizing the students who paid several lakhs of rupees to attend the special coaching classes where these question banks were dictated/ discussed. 

(Freelance Journalist)