Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Shivraj Motegaonkar, founder and director of RCC Coaching Institute in Latur, Maharashtra, in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak scandal. The arrest followed a prolonged interrogation, marking a significant development in the agency’s ongoing probe into the organised racket.
According to the CBI, Motegaonkar was an active participant in a gang that allegedly obtained and circulated the NEET-UG question paper and answers ahead of the examination. The arrest and search documents, accessed by India Today, indicate that he colluded with other accused individuals to secure the materials on April 23.
The nationwide NEET-UG 2026 exam took place on May 3 but was cancelled by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 12 after reports of the leak surfaced. A re-examination is scheduled for June 21.
During a search of Motegaonkar’s residence in Latur on May 14, CBI officials recovered the leaked NEET-UG 2026 question paper from his mobile phone. The device has been seized for forensic analysis. The investigation has revealed that the accused conspired with gang members and officials linked to the NTA to distribute copies of the leaked papers and answer sheets to several individuals.
Motegaonkar has not revealed the identities of all recipients of handwritten copies of the leaked questions, the agency noted. The CBI further claims he destroyed the leaked papers after the exam in an effort to erase evidence.
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He has been charged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita, 2023 — including 61(2), 238, 303(2), 316(5), and 318(4) — along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
Maharashtra has become a key focus of the CBI investigation. The agency had previously arrested PV Kulkarni, described as a chemistry professor and alleged kingpin, along with Manisha Mandhare and Manisha Waghmare. Kulkarni and Mandhare are suspected to be among the masterminds. CBI sources indicated that Mandhare worked with Waghmare and Kulkarni to supply questions to selected candidates in return for large payments.
The probe has also turned attention to a possible inside job involving an NTA official. Authorities allege that Waghmare, in collusion with others and an unnamed NTA functionary, obtained the question papers and answer keys about a week before the exam.
As the investigation continues, the government has announced plans to shift the NEET-UG examination to a fully online format starting in 2027. The unfolding connections between coaching institutes, intermediaries, and potential official involvement have intensified scrutiny over the security and integrity of this critical medical entrance test.