NEET UG 2026 Paper Leak: CBI Exposes Massive ₹5 Lakh Bribery Deal Involving NTA Panelist
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has dropped a massive bombshell in the ongoing NEET UG 2026 examination paper leak probe. In a formal submission to a special court on Wednesday, the central agency revealed that an operator of a Latur-based coaching institute paid a staggering ₹5 lakh bribe directly to a panellist of the National Testing Agency (NTA) to secure leaked chemistry questions well ahead of the national medical entrance test.
NTA Insider Named as Primary Source of Leaked Content
The central agency has formally identified the accused paper-setter as P V Kulkarni, who was actively serving on the prestigious NTA expert panel responsible for drafting the official examination question sets. According to the CBI’s investigative brief, the primary beneficiary, Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar—owner of a prominent coaching centre in Latur—established contact with Kulkarni through his own son, who attended Kulkarni's specialised chemistry coaching classes. The agency alleged that Motegaonkar, "in conspiracy with the co-accused, procured NEET (UG) leaked chemistry questions before the exam, and paid ₹5 lakh for the same."
Smartphone Digital Metadata Confirms Pre-Exam Leak Timeline
The scale of the illicit operation became clear after the CBI conducted advanced forensic extractions on Motegaonkar’s seized smartphone. Investigators recovered a total of 36 digital images containing 132 handwritten chemistry problems.
The analytical breakdown of the digital evidence highlights a devastating breach of exam security:
Handwriting Matching: The recovered notes were purportedly written in Motegaonkar's own handwriting, transcribed directly from the confidential blueprints leaked by Kulkarni.
Master Set Correlation: A comparative cross-check by central experts confirmed that 111 out of the 132 handwritten questions perfectly matched the official master question sets prepared by the NTA for the nationwide exam.
Metadata Timeline: Advanced metadata analysis of the smartphone files conclusively proved that these photographs were taken approximately 10 days before the scheduled May 3 examination date, completely shattering any claims of coincidence.
Cash Recovery and Nationwide Arrest Tally
The agency confirmed that the financial trail of the operation has been successfully verified. Acting on specific leads provided during the interrogation of co-accused Manoj Bhagwanrao Shirure, CBI field teams successfully recovered the physical currency notes worth ₹5 lakh used to pay for the leak.
With these subsequent developments, the total number of individuals arrested by the CBI in connection with this inter-state medical entrance racket has climbed to 13 persons, all of whom have been denied bail and are currently being held in judicial custody under strict anti-corruption laws.
Massive Disruption to National Medical Admissions
The fallout from the investigation has completely derailed the academic calendar for millions of medical aspirants across India. Following initial intelligence reports of widespread question paper leaks and organised institutional irregularities, the NTA officially cancelled the May 3 National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) on May 12. A nationwide re-examination was organised and conducted on June 21 to restore academic merit.
As per the statutory frameworks under the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act and the National Commission for Homoeopathy Act, the NEET UG remains the mandatory, uniform gateway for admission to all undergraduate medical programs across the country—including MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BUMS, BSMS, and BHMS.
