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NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak Case: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday arrested a native of Latur and a Chemistry lecturer, PV Kulkarni. He is said to be the kingpin in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. His arrest is seen as a significant breakthrough, which may lead the probe agency to the big fish of the entire paper leak syndicate.

The CBI and state police in several states arrested over half a dozen suspects, who played an active role in leaking the question paper of the prestigious medical exam, prompting the National Testing Agency (NTA) to cancel the May 3 examination and announce a retest on June 21.

Quiz

According to the article, what subject did PV Kulkarni lecture in?

ALSO READ: NEET Paper Leak: Pune Professor PV Kulkarni Identified As Kingpin; Was Part Of NTA Panel, Dictated Questions To Students

So far, accused have been arrested from Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune, and Ahilyanagar. Of these, five accused have already been produced before the court and sent to seven days of police custody for further interrogation.

Here Are The Top Arrests And Their Roles:

1. PV Kulkarni: According to the CBI, Chemistry lecturer PV Kulkarni is the leakage point, who allegedly leaked the question paper, which later spread across several states, including Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Kerala. He was associated with the examination process on behalf of the NTA and had access to the confidential question papers. CBI officials said investigations revealed that Kulkarni, during the last week of April 2, allegedly organised special coaching sessions for selected students at his residence in Pune. During these sessions, Kulkarni allegedly dictated questions, multiple-choice options, and correct answers related to the Chemistry paper of NEET-UG 2026. Investigators said students wrote down the questions and answers in notebooks, which were later found to exactly match the actual Chemistry question paper used in the examination conducted on May 3.

2. Shubham Khairnar: Shubham Khairnar, one of the key accused in the NEET-UG 2026 exam paper leak scam, was arrested in Nashik. He provided questions to his supplier, Yash Yadav from Pune.

ALSO READ: NEET UG To Be Computer-Based From 2027, Re-Test On June 21: Education Minister After NEET Paper Leak

3. Yash Yadav: Yash Yadav, a BAMS student who was arrested in Gurugram, had links to coaching centres and possibly sold questions further. He passed on the paper to the Biwal family.

4. Biwal family: Three members of the Biwal family - Mangilal Biwal, Vikas Biwal and Dinesh Biwal were arrested in Jaipur. Dinesh and Mangilal are brothers, and Vikas is the son of Mangilal. They allegedly spread the question paper. They are alleged to have obtained the paper from a doctor on April 26-27 and sold it for lakhs of rupees.

ALSO READ: NEET UG Exam Paper Leak: Accused Assured Candidates Of Securing 500-600 Marks; CBI Uncovers Key Details In WhatsApp Chats

5. Manish Yadav: Manish Yadav, another key accused, was coordinating the leak network. He was arrested in Pune.

6. Rakesh Mandawariya: Rakesh Kumar Mandawariya, who runs a career guidance cell called RK Consultancy on Sikar's Piprali Road, had allegedly purchased the paper from the Biwal brothers for Rs 15 lakh and circulated it among students, reported NDTV. He was responsible for distributing the guess paper and disseminating it to students through counselling.

7. Dhananjay Lokhanda: Dhananjay Lokhanda, who was arrested in Ahilyanagar, received the leaked question paper from his “source” within the examination conducting body.

Meanwhile, the role of several officers of the NTA and other organisations having access to the printing press where NEET UG papers were printed has come under the scanner.

(With Agencies inputs)


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