CBI arrests coaching centre founder in NEET-UG paper leak case
NEW DELHI, May 18: A parliamentary panel has decided to review the implementation of reforms in the National Testing Agency (NTA) as well as the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case and has summoned NTA Chairperson Pradeep Kumar Joshi and other bureaucrats for deliberations.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports will seek the views of top education ministry bureaucrats on the alleged paper leak and reforms of NTA, which holds centralised admission tests to various undergraduate courses, on May 21, a Rajya Sabha notice said.
The agenda includes a review of the implementation of the K Radhakrishnan Committee report on NTA reforms and an update on the investigation into the alleged NEET-UG paper leak case.
The committee, headed by Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, has summoned the Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Vineet Joshi, and NTA Chairperson Pradeep Kumar Joshi for deliberations.
The NTA cancelled the National Eligibility cum Entrance Exam (Undergraduate) held on May 3 amid allegations of irregularities. Nearly 23 lakh candidates had registered for the test, which was administered by the NTA across the country.
According to the NTA, information regarding alleged malpractice was received on the evening of May 7, four days after the exam was held.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday announced that the NEET-UG re-examination would be held on June 21. He said the medical entrance exam would be computer-based from next year.
CBI ARRESTS COACHING CENTRE FOUNDER
The CBI has arrested the founder of a coaching centre based in Maharashtra’s Latur over his alleged involvement in the NEET-UG paper leak, officials said on Monday.
Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, who runs Renukai Chemistry Classes (RCC), was arrested on Sunday evening after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recovered a leaked question paper of the examination held on May 3 from his mobile phone during searches at his premises, the officials said.
According to the officials, Motegaonkar was allegedly an “active member of the organised gang” involved in the leakage and circulation of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)- Undergraduate (UG) paper.
His coaching centre has nine branches, including the main branch in Latur.
As part of a conspiracy with other accused persons, Motegaonkar received the question paper and answers on April 23, nearly 10 days before the high-stakes examination was held across the country and abroad, the CBI said in its grounds for arrest.
The agency has alleged that Motegaonkar provided copies of the leaked question papers and answer sheets to several people in the form of handwritten notes that were destroyed after the examination was held.
“He is close to P V Kulkarni, chemistry lecturer, who is associated with the NTA (National Testing Agency). Searches conducted at his institute and residence resulted in the recovery of the chemistry question bank, which contained exactly the same questions that appeared in the NEET exam held on 3rd May,” a CBI spokesperson said in a statement.
The CBI said it will send the seized mobile phone for forensic analysis to recover deleted data, if any.
The agency conducted searches at the coaching centre in the Shivnagar locality of Latur on Sunday afternoon. Motegaonkar was questioned for nearly eight hours on Friday at his residence in the same area.
“In the last 24 hours, the CBI has also conducted searches at five locations at various places and seized several incriminating documents, laptops and mobile phones. A detailed analysis of the seized items is going on,” the spokesperson said.
So far, 10 accused have been arrested in this case from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nasik, Pune, Latur and Ahilyanagar, the statement said.
The agency had earlier arrested a chemistry lecturer, P V Kulkarni, and a biology lecturer, Manisha Mandhare, both known to each other through a woman, Manisha Waghmare, who is also in CBI custody. (PTI)
