The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested a doctor from Maharashtra’s Latur and a physics teacher from a Pune-based coaching institute in connection with the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case.
According to officials, the agency arrested Manoj Shirure, a Latur-based doctor, for allegedly playing a key role in facilitating access to leaked chemistry questions for three students, including the son of Renukai Career Centre (RCC) founder Shivraj Motegaonkar.
Motegaonkar, who operated the RCC coaching institute in Latur, was arrested earlier as part of the ongoing investigation.
The CBI also arrested Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, a physics faculty member at Dr Abhang Prabhu Medical Academy (APMA) in Pune. Investigators allege that Shah received leaked physics questions for the NEET-UG 2026 examination from co-accused Manisha Havaldar, who was arrested previously in the case.
With the latest arrests, the total number of people taken into custody in the paper leak case has risen to 13.
“The investigation to unearth the entire chain and conspiracy behind the paper leak is ongoing. The CBI has so far conducted searches at 49 locations and seized several incriminating documents, laptops and mobile phones,” a CBI spokesperson said in a statement.
The NEET-UG examination, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 3 for admissions to undergraduate medical courses, was cancelled on May 12 following allegations of a question paper leak and other irregularities.
The NTA has announced that a fresh examination will be conducted on June 21 for affected candidates.
The case has triggered nationwide concern over the integrity of competitive examinations and prompted calls for stricter safeguards in the conduct of entrance tests.
