NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak: CBI Arrests Professor PV Kulkarni, Alleges Insider Role In NTA Exam Breach

The CBI has arrested Professor PV Kulkarni in Pune, calling the chemistry lecturer the alleged “kingpin” in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. Investigators say the arrest directly links the leak to an insider at the National Testing Agency, raising serious questions about how the medical entrance exam was handled.

Sources state that Kulkarni served on the NEET-UG 2026 question paper-setting committee while teaching at Dayanand Medical College in Latur. The exam, organised by the National Testing Agency on 3 May 2026, was later cancelled after leak allegations, with the government ordering a CBI probe into reported “irregularities” on 12 May 2026.

CBI investigation widens in NEET paper leak

The CBI investigation, launched after a complaint from the Department of Higher Education on 12 May 2026, has rapidly expanded beyond Kulkarni. Officials have arrested eight people so far from Jaipur, Gurugram, Nasik, Pune and Ahliyanagar. According to agency sources, five of the accused are currently under seven-day police custody for detailed questioning.

Within the last 24 hours, CBI teams carried out coordinated searches at several locations across India linked to the NEET paper leak. Officers seized mobile phones, computers and other electronic devices, along with documents described as incriminating. These materials are being examined to trace the money trail and communication pattern behind the alleged cheating network.

Insider access and NTA questions in NEET paper leak

The arrest of a committee member involved in setting the NEET-UG 2026 paper has become a major embarrassment for the NTA. On Wednesday, CBI officers reached the NTA headquarters and took custody of records that show how the question paper moved from drafting to final distribution, aiming to map every stage of handling.

Officials highlight that this approach contrasts with the NEET-UG 2024 investigation, where the NTA largely escaped internal blame. In the 2026 case, investigators say suspicion of an “insider role” surfaced from the beginning. The presence of an accused paper-setter, they argue, strengthens that angle and could lead to tighter future oversight.

Alleged operation details behind NEET paper leak

Investigators claim Kulkarni exploited official access to the final NEET-UG 2026 questions in the last week of April 2026. The CBI alleges that Kulkarni, helped by an associate named Manisha Waghmare, selected a small group of students who reportedly paid several lakhs of rupees each for advance exposure to the paper.

According to the agency, the “special coaching classes” took place inside Kulkarni’s private residence in Pune. During these sessions, Kulkarni allegedly dictated particular questions, all answer options, and the correct choices. Students wrote them in notebooks that were later seized. Forensic checks found the notes “exactly tallied” with the NEET-UG 2026 paper held on 3 May.

Accused profile and custody status in NEET paper leak

Kulkarni, originally from Latur, a city known for medical entrance coaching centres, was reportedly staying in Pune when detained. After initial interrogation, the CBI is presenting Kulkarni before a Pune court to obtain transit remand. Kulkarni is expected to be moved to New Delhi, where senior officers will carry out further questioning.

Co-accused Manisha Waghmare was arrested by the CBI on 14 May 2026 in connection with the same NEET paper leak conspiracy. Both are likely to face detailed scrutiny over financial dealings, possible links with coaching agents, and communication with candidates. Officials say more names could surface as digital evidence is analysed.

Arrests across cities linked to NEET paper leak

The following table summarises the known arrests related to the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, based on CBI information so far:

The NEET-UG 2026 cancellation and the arrest of an alleged insider have triggered serious concern about exam security under the National Testing Agency. With more raids expected, the CBI focus now lies on reconstructing the entire leak chain, from access to distribution, and on fixing responsibility within and outside official systems.