NEET leak: CBI arrests coaching centre founder

PUNE/NEW DELHI: CBI arrested Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, the manager of Maharashtra-based Renukai Career Centre (RCC), alleging helium circulated leaked NEETUG 2026 questions done coaching networks and “mock tests” conducted earlier examination, study Gitesh Shelke, Rajshekhar Jha & Koushiki Saha.

This is the 10th apprehension by CBI, which has present widened its probe, bringing much than 60 suspected beneficiaries nether scrutiny. CBI detained Motegaonkar successful Latur Sunday night, questioned him astatine its Pune bureau and flew him to New Delhi Monday aft formally arresting him.Ex-chemistry lecturer Kulkarni named cardinal source, Motegaonkar nether scannerMotegaonkar is allegedly linked to retired chemistry lecturer Prahlad Vithalrao Kulkarni of Latur, whom investigators described arsenic root of the leak.

Kulkarni, who worked arsenic a Marathi translator for National Testing Agency (NTA) and had entree to questions, was arrested connected May 15. Investigators are probing whether Kulkarni leaked papers successful erstwhile years. More than 22 lakh students crossed India wrote NEET-UG connected May 3. Exam was cancelled connected May 12 pursuing allegations of wide malpractice and insubstantial leak, triggering 1 of country’s biggest entranceway trial probes successful caller years.

CBI told a tribunal successful New Delhi that Motegaonkar received chemistry questions and answers connected April 23, astir 10 days earlier exam, and circulated handwritten copies to aggregate candidates and intermediaries.

Investigators alleged leaked questions were recovered successful his mobile phone. “Motegaonkar appeared successful a video astatine his coaching centre claiming questions helium gave students aboriginal appeared successful last exam paper,” a CBI serviceman said. Agency suspects leaked questions were distributed done prime coaching networks operating crossed Maharashtra. Searches astatine Motegaonkar’s institute and residence led to confiscation of a chemistry question slope containing questions identical to those successful NEET-UG held connected May 3, officials said, adding laptops, mobile phones and documents seized from 5 locations are being analysed. CBI said Motegaonkar ran RCC coaching centres astatine 9 locations, including Latur headquarters, grooming NEET aspirants.

Investigators alleged students who paid lakhs of rupees attended “special coaching classes” wherever questions expected successful exam were allegedly dictated and discussed beforehand. Special CBI justice Ajay Gupta remanded Motegaonkar successful 9 days of CBI custody. (Inputs from Ashish Mehta successful Jaipur & Mohammed Akhef successful Sambhajinagar)