New Delhi: The investigation into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case intensified on Wednesday after the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested two more accused, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 13.
The latest arrests include a doctor from Latur and a physics teacher associated with a Pune based coaching institute. Officials said the accused were allegedly linked to the circulation of leaked examination questions before the medical entrance test.
According to investigators, Manoj Shirure allegedly played a crucial role in helping three students gain access to chemistry questions that were reportedly sourced from NEET paper setter P V Kulkarni. Among the students was the son of Shivraj Motegaonkar, who had earlier been arrested in the case.
The agency also arrested Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, a physics teacher at Dr Abhang Prabhu Medical Academy. Investigators alleged that he received leaked physics questions from another accused, Manisha Havaldar, who was previously taken into custody.
The CBI stated that the investigation is continuing to uncover the wider conspiracy behind the leak and identify all individuals involved in obtaining and distributing the question papers before the examination. Officials confirmed that raids had been conducted at 49 locations across the country as part of the ongoing operation.
Several documents, laptops, and mobile phones have been seized during the searches and are currently being examined for evidence. Special investigative teams are also working across cities including Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune, Latur, and Ahilyanagar.
The controversy erupted after the National Testing Agency cancelled the NEET-UG examination conducted on May 3 following allegations of a paper leak. The case was formally registered on May 12 after a complaint from the Department of Higher Education under the Union Education Ministry.
More than 22 lakh students had appeared for the examination across over 5,400 centres in India and abroad. A fresh examination has now been scheduled for June 21 with enhanced security arrangements.
