Inside CBI's NEET probe: Kingpins, middlemen and multi-crore leak network

The CBI's NEET-UG 2026 paper leak probe has identified the alleged sources of leaked Chemistry, Biology and Physics questions. Investigators are tracing the money trail and the middlemen who allegedly arranged students and coaching sessions.

In Short

• CBI says Chemistry, Biology and Physics leaks were handled separately
• Investigators arrested 4 key accused between May 15 and May 22
• Students were allegedly mobilised for paid coaching sessions in Pune

The Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) investigation into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak has begun, revealing what investigators describe as a structured network involving examination insiders, subject experts, coaching operators and middlemen who allegedly leaked questions of specific subjects before the examination and monetised them through paid “special coaching classes.”

The agency, between May 15 and May 22, has identified key accused linked to the leak of Chemistry, Biology and Physics questions. It also claimed to have uncovered the chain through which students were mobilised and coached using questions that later matched the actual examination paper.

According to CBI, the investigation suggests the leak was not a single-source operation but a subject-wise network where individuals with access to examination material allegedly handled separate portions of the paper and shared them with intermediaries and selected candidates.

CHEMISTRY LEAK: CBI NAMES NTA-LINKED LECTURER AS 'KINGPIN'

The first major breakthrough came on May 15 when the CBI announced the arrest of PV Kulkarni, describing him as a “kingpin” and the source of the Chemistry paper leak. Investigators said Kulkarni, a Chemistry lecturer associated with the examination process on behalf of National Testing Agency (NTA), allegedly had access to question papers.

The CBI said that during the last week of April, Kulkarni allegedly mobilised students through co-accused Manisha Waghmare and organised special coaching sessions at his residence in Pune. During these sessions, he allegedly dictated questions, answer options and correct responses to candidates, who handwritten the material in notebooks. Investigators claim these notes later matched the actual NEET-UG examination paper conducted on May 3 and got cancelled after the leak surfaced.

The agency said its probe had established Kulkarni as the “actual source” behind the Chemistry paper leak and identified middlemen who allegedly collected lakhs of rupees from students for access to these sessions.

BIOLOGY LEAK: SENIOR TEACHER IDENTIFIED AS ANOTHER 'MASTERMIND'

A day later, on May 16, the agency announced another arrest and described Manisha Gurunath Mandhare as a “mastermind” behind the Biology leak. Mandhare, a senior Botany teacher from Pune, had allegedly been appointed by NTA as an expert and had complete access to Botany and Zoology question papers.

According to investigators, Mandhare allegedly used Manisha Waghmare to mobilise NEET aspirants and organised coaching sessions at her Pune residence. During these classes, she allegedly disclosed questions from Botany and Zoology, asking students to note them down and mark relevant portions in textbooks. The CBI said a majority of these questions matched those appearing in the actual examination.

The agency subsequently noted that its investigation had established the source of Chemistry and Biology leaks and identified the middlemen allegedly responsible for arranging students and facilitating the operation.

COACHING INSTITUTE OWNER ALSO ARRESTED

On May 18, investigators widened the scope of the alleged conspiracy with the arrest of Prof Shivaraj Motegaonkar, the owner of RCC Coaching Institute in Maharashtra's Latur. The CBI described him as another key accused and said he was close to Kulkarni, who allegedly leaked the Chemistry paper.

Searches at his residence and institute allegedly led to the recovery of a Chemistry question bank that, according to investigators, contained questions exactly matching those appearing in the NEET-UG examination.

The CBI also alleged that students paid several lakhs of rupees to attend special coaching classes where questions likely to appear in the examination were discussed and dictated. By then, investigators claimed they had traced the actual source of leaks involving both Chemistry and Biology papers.

PHYSICS LEAK SOURCE IDENTIFIED

The latest development came on May 22 when the CBI announced the arrest of Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, a teacher working at Seth Hiralal Saraf Prashala in Pune, who investigators said was the source of leaked Physics questions.

The CBI alleged that Havaldar had been appointed by NTA as an expert and possessed complete access to Physics question papers. In April, she allegedly shared some Physics questions with co-accused Manisha Mandhare. Investigators said the questions matched the Physics section appearing in NEET paper sets.

With Havaldar’s arrest, the CBI said it had now uncovered the “actual source” of leaked question papers and identified the middlemen allegedly involved in arranging students and facilitating coaching sessions.

NETWORK SPANNING MULTIPLE STATES

The investigation, registered on May 12 following a complaint by the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education, has rapidly expanded across several states. The CBI said special teams carried out searches and interrogations across the country immediately after taking over the case.

The number of arrests increased from seven on May 15 to eleven by May 22, with accused being picked up from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nasik, Pune, Latur and Ahilyanagar.

Searches have led to the seizure of laptops, mobile phones, bank records and alleged incriminating documents, all of which are undergoing forensic and technical analysis.

The investigation appears focused on establishing the complete money trail, identifying beneficiaries and determining whether additional insiders within the examination ecosystem may have played a role in what CBI increasingly describes as a coordinated and subject-wise leak mechanism.

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