The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which had been spearheading the probe into the NEET UG 2026 paper leak, achieved a major breakthrough on Friday by arresting PV Kulkarni, the alleged ‘kingpin’ behind the scandal. Kulkarni, a native of Latur, and working in Maharashtra’s Pune, was allegedly involved in the examination process of the National Testing Agency (NTA), which holds the exam annually. This allegedly gave him access to the confidential NEET UG question papers, CBI officials said. 

Notably, the exam was conducted nationwide on May 3, but was cancelled on May 12, 2026 after it came to light that the paper had been leaked prior to the test. 

Questions dictated to students during coaching classes

CBI officials shed light on more details, saying that Kulkarni allegedly mobilised selected students during the last week of April 2026 with the help of his aide, Manisha Waghmare. The agency claimed that special coaching sessions had been organised at Kulkarni’s house in Pune, where he allegedly provided access to leaked questions and its answers before the exam. 

Investigators said Kulkarni dictated the Chemistry section questions, along with Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and correct answers during these closed-door sessions. Students took note of the dictated material in their respective copies. Furthermore, the CBI claimed that handwritten notes recovered during the probe ‘exactly tallied’ with the actual NEET UG 2026 question paper.

Officials are suspecting that the leaked material was circulated among candidates who paid lakhs of rupees to gain access to the sessions. 

Probe underway in numerous states

The CBI had taken over the case after the controversy surfaced in Rajasthan on May 7. Following a complaint from the Union Ministry of Education, an FIR was registered on May 12.

Since then, the agency conducted extensive searches across multiple locations nationwide, and ended up seizing electronic devices, documents and cell phones linked to the leaked network. According to officials, the seized material has been subjected to detailed forensic and technical examinations. 

Seven in CBI’s dragnet

Till Thursday (May 14), the CBI had swooped down on seven persons in connection with the leak, from Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahilyanagar. Five of the accused have been produced before a court and have been remanded to five days of CBI custody for further interrogation. Two others arrested on Thursday were being produced in a court in Pune for transit remand to Delhi. 

Meanwhile, the NTA announced on Friday that the NEET UG 2026 exam will be conducted again on June 21, 2026. More than 22 lakh candidates had taken the exam across India.