The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, the director of a coaching center in Maharashtra, in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. Motegaonkar, who operated coaching classes in Latur, is said to have played a significant role in the alleged NEET paper leak network. The total number of arrests in the investigation now stands at ten.
According to sources, the CBI is expected to release an official statement regarding the recent arrest soon. This development occurs amidst a growing nationwide probe into the purported leak of the NEET-UG 2026 examination paper, which resulted in widespread public outcry and the subsequent cancellation of the May 3 exam.
In a related development, a Delhi court has remanded NEET paper leak suspect Manisha Gurunath Mandhare to 14-day custody of the CBI. Mandhare, a senior Botany teacher appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) from Pune, is suspected to be one of the key figures behind the leak of the Biology question paper. Chemistry Professor P.V. Kulkarni is being identified as the alleged mastermind of the paper leak.
During court proceedings at Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court, the CBI revealed that Mandhare specialized in translating botany and zoology question papers and had access to the NEET-UG Biology paper. The agency stated that Mandhare, in collaboration with P.V. Kulkarni and Manisha Waghmare, provided the question paper to another accused, Shubham. The CBI is conducting simultaneous investigations nationwide and plans to take Mandhare to various parts of the country for further inquiries.
