NEET Paper Leak Probe: CBI Alleges Latur Coaching Owner Paid ₹5 Lakh for Exam Questions

New Delhi, July 16: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has intensified its probe into the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak investigation, claiming that a coaching institute owner from Maharashtra’s Latur district paid ₹5 lakh to illegally obtain confidential chemistry questions before the national medical entrance examination. The agency presented these allegations before a special court while opposing the accused’s bail application.

According to the CBI, Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, owner of a coaching centre in Latur, allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy with other accused individuals to gain access to restricted examination material prepared for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), commonly known as NEET-UG.

The agency informed the court that Motegaonkar allegedly arranged payment of ₹5 lakh to secure chemistry questions through P. V. Kulkarni, who was reportedly associated with the National Testing Agency (NTA) as one of the experts involved in preparing examination questions.

CBI Opposes Bail Plea

The allegations surfaced during proceedings on Motegaonkar’s bail application, where the investigating agency argued that the evidence collected so far establishes his direct involvement in obtaining leaked examination material before the scheduled test.

The CBI submitted that Motegaonkar had allegedly conspired with co-accused individuals to acquire confidential chemistry questions in advance of the examination and financially compensated those involved in facilitating access to the material.

Investigators argued that granting bail at this stage could adversely affect the ongoing investigation because several aspects of the wider conspiracy are still under examination.

Questions Allegedly Shared Through Coaching Classes

According to the agency’s submission, the leaked questions were allegedly circulated during chemistry tutorial sessions conducted by Kulkarni. The CBI claimed that Motegaonkar’s son attended these classes, during which the confidential questions were reportedly discussed.

Investigators believe this arrangement allowed the accused to gain access to questions that later appeared in the official examination.

The agency further alleged that Motegaonkar manually copied the chemistry questions into handwritten notes after receiving them during the tutorial sessions.

Digital Evidence Strengthens Investigation

One of the key pieces of evidence highlighted by the CBI is the recovery of Motegaonkar’s mobile phone during the investigation.

Forensic examination reportedly revealed 36 photographs, including duplicate images, containing handwritten chemistry questions. These images collectively featured 132 handwritten questions, which investigators subjected to detailed comparison with the official examination material.

According to the agency, 111 of these handwritten questions allegedly matched questions contained in the National Testing Agency’s master question sets prepared for NEET-UG 2026.

Officials described the similarity as significant evidence supporting the allegation that confidential examination content had been accessed before the examination date.

Metadata Indicates Early Access

Digital forensic experts working with the CBI also examined metadata associated with the recovered images.

The agency informed the court that technical analysis indicated the photographs were taken approximately 10 days before the NEET-UG examination conducted on May 3, 2026.

Investigators argue that this timeline is crucial because it suggests that the accused allegedly possessed confidential examination content well before candidates across the country appeared for the test.

The CBI maintains that this digital trail strengthens the prosecution’s claim that examination secrecy had been compromised before the scheduled examination.

Handwritten Notes Under Scanner

The investigating agency further stated that the recovered notes appear to have been written by Motegaonkar himself.

Officials told the court that handwriting analysis and other investigative findings indicate that the chemistry questions preserved on the phone were prepared personally by the accused after obtaining access to the confidential material.

These handwritten notes have become an important part of the documentary evidence collected during the investigation.

Recovery of Alleged Payment

Another important development cited by the CBI concerns the recovery of the alleged payment connected to the leak.

The agency informed the court that the ₹5 lakh allegedly paid to obtain the confidential questions was recovered during the investigation at the instance of co-accused Manoj Bhagwanrao Shirure.

Investigators believe the financial transaction forms an important link in establishing the conspiracy behind the alleged paper leak.

The recovery is expected to play a significant role when the prosecution presents evidence during future court proceedings.

Thirteen Arrested So Far

The CBI confirmed that 13 individuals have been arrested in connection with the alleged examination leak.

All accused are currently in judicial custody as investigators continue examining financial transactions, communication records, digital devices, and the possible involvement of additional individuals connected with the examination process.

Officials have indicated that the investigation remains active and further developments are possible depending on the evidence collected.

Background of the NEET-UG 2026 Controversy

The controversy surrounding NEET-UG 2026 emerged shortly after the nationwide examination conducted on May 3 amid allegations that confidential question papers had been leaked before the test.

Following multiple complaints and preliminary findings, the National Testing Agency decided to cancel the examination on May 12, citing concerns regarding the integrity of the admission process.

To ensure fairness for medical aspirants, the NTA later organised a fresh examination on June 21, allowing eligible candidates to compete under revised arrangements.

The CBI subsequently took over the investigation to examine the alleged leak, identify those responsible, and determine whether confidential examination material had been illegally accessed or distributed before the original test.

Investigation Continues

The NEET-UG 2026 paper leak investigation remains one of the country’s most closely watched education-related probes. Investigators are continuing to analyse digital evidence, financial records, communication trails, and witness statements to establish the full extent of the alleged conspiracy.

The outcome of the investigation is expected to influence future reforms aimed at strengthening examination security and restoring confidence in India’s competitive entrance examination system.