The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has made fresh allegations in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, claiming that a coaching centre owner from Maharashtra’s Latur paid Rs 5 lakh to obtain leaked chemistry questions before the medical entrance examination.

The agency presented the details before a special court while opposing the bail plea of the accused, arguing that digital evidence, handwritten notes and financial transactions point to a well-planned conspiracy behind the alleged leak.

CBI Alleges Coaching Centre Owner Paid for Leaked Questions

According to the CBI, Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, who operates a coaching institute in Latur, allegedly conspired with other accused individuals to obtain confidential chemistry questions ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 examination.

The agency claimed that Motegaonkar paid Rs 5 lakh to access the leaked material and later prepared handwritten notes based on the questions provided to him before the examination.

Investigators argued that the alleged payment forms a crucial part of the larger conspiracy surrounding the NEET paper leak.

Questions Allegedly Linked to NTA Paper Setter

The CBI informed the court that the leaked questions were allegedly sourced through PV Kulkarni, who was part of the National Testing Agency’s panel responsible for preparing the NEET examination paper.

Investigators further alleged that Motegaonkar’s son attended Kulkarni’s chemistry coaching classes, where the confidential questions were reportedly shared before the examination.

The agency maintains that this connection played a significant role in obtaining access to the examination material ahead of the test.

Mobile Phone Evidence Strengthens Investigation

One of the strongest pieces of evidence cited by the CBI is the recovery of Motegaonkar’s mobile phone.

According to investigators, the device contained 36 images, including duplicate copies, featuring 132 handwritten chemistry questions.

The agency claimed that 111 of these questions matched the master question sets prepared for NEET-UG 2026 by the National Testing Agency.

Officials also stated that metadata analysis showed the images were captured nearly 10 days before the examination held on May 3, strengthening the agency’s claim that the material was obtained before the test.

Handwritten Notes Under Investigation

The CBI also told the court that the handwritten chemistry notes recovered from the mobile phone were allegedly written by Motegaonkar himself.

Investigators believe these notes were prepared using the leaked questions received before the examination.

The agency further claimed that the money allegedly paid for obtaining the leaked material was later recovered during the investigation from co-accused Manoj Bhagwanrao Shirure, adding another layer to the prosecution’s case.

Bail Plea Faces Strong Opposition

The latest revelations were submitted while the CBI opposed Motegaonkar’s bail application.

The agency argued that the digital evidence, alleged financial transaction and matching question papers establish a strong prima facie case against the accused.

Investigators have urged the court to reject the bail plea, stating that the probe is still underway and further evidence continues to emerge.

NEET-UG 2026 Leak Probe Continues

The NEET-UG 2026 examination, conducted on May 3, came under intense scrutiny after allegations of a paper leak surfaced across several states.

Following the controversy, the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the examination on May 12, prompting uncertainty among lakhs of medical aspirants.

A fresh examination was subsequently conducted on June 21, while the CBI took over the investigation to identify those involved in the alleged leak.

So far, the agency has arrested 13 accused, all of whom are currently in judicial custody as the investigation continues.

Investigation Still Ongoing

The latest court submissions suggest that investigators are focusing on digital records, financial transactions and links between coaching centres and individuals connected to the examination process.

The CBI believes the recovered evidence strengthens its case, although the allegations are yet to be tested during trial. The court will now consider the prosecution’s arguments while deciding the bail application of the accused.

FAQs

1. What is the latest development in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case?

The CBI has alleged that a Latur coaching centre owner paid Rs 5 lakh to obtain leaked chemistry questions before the NEET-UG 2026 examination.

2. Who is the main accused mentioned in the latest court proceedings?

The CBI named Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, a coaching centre owner from Maharashtra’s Latur, as one of the accused.

3. How many NEET questions allegedly matched the official paper?

According to the CBI, 111 out of 132 handwritten chemistry questions recovered from the accused’s phone matched the NTA’s master question sets.

4. What evidence did the CBI present in court?

The agency cited handwritten notes, mobile phone images, metadata analysis and alleged financial transactions as key evidence.

5. Why is the CBI opposing the bail plea?

The agency argues that the evidence points to a larger conspiracy and that the investigation is still ongoing, making bail inappropriate at this stage.

6. Who allegedly supplied the leaked questions?

The CBI claims the questions were obtained through PV Kulkarni, who was allegedly associated with the panel responsible for setting the NEET examination paper.

7. Why was NEET-UG 2026 cancelled?

The National Testing Agency cancelled the exam after allegations of a paper leak surfaced following the May 3 examination.

8. Was the NEET examination conducted again?

Yes. A fresh NEET-UG 2026 examination was held on June 21 after the original exam was cancelled.

9. How many people have been arrested in the case?

According to the CBI, 13 accused have been arrested so far, and all are currently in judicial custody.

10. Is the investigation complete?

No. The CBI has informed the court that the investigation is ongoing and additional evidence is still being examined.