CBI arrests two more in NEET UG 2026 leak, total arrests rise to 13 as investigation expands

MUMBAI: The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested two more persons in the alleged NEET UG 2026 paper leak case, taking the total number of arrests so far to 13, as investigators continue to piece together what they describe as a sprawling network involved in the leakage and circulation of examination questions before the national medical entrance test.

Among those arrested is Dr Manoj Shirure, a doctor based in Latur, who the CBI alleges played a crucial role in facilitating access to leaked Chemistry questions for three students, including the son of a coaching institute owner already under arrest in the case. According to investigators, the questions were sourced from another accused, P V Kulkarni.



The second arrest is that of Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, a physics faculty member at Pune based Dr Abhang Prabhu Medical Academy (APMA). The CBI said Shah allegedly obtained leaked Physics questions from Manisha Havaldar, one of the accused previously arrested in the investigation.

Officials said the probe is now focused on uncovering the larger chain of distribution and the wider conspiracy behind the leak. The agency has so far conducted searches at 49 locations across the country and seized several documents, laptops and mobile phones that are now being examined in detail.

The case was registered by the CBI on May 12 following a complaint from the Department of Higher Education under the Union Ministry of Education regarding alleged irregularities and leakage of the NEET UG 2026 question paper. Soon after the FIR was filed, multiple special teams were formed and raids were carried out across several states, leading to detentions and interrogations.

So far, the 13 accused arrested in the case are from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune, Latur and Ahilyanagar. Investigators claim that the probe has already identified the “actual source” from where the leaked Chemistry, Biology and Physics questions were circulated ahead of the examination.

The agency maintained that the investigation is continuing on multiple fronts, with several teams working simultaneously to establish the complete sequence of events and identify all those involved in the alleged leak network.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Bakrid wishes, messages and eid 2026