NEET-UG 2026 leak: Maharastra doctor becomes first parent arrested in CBI probe

In a major development in the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, the CBI on May 21 arrested Latur-based paediatrician Manoj Shirure, making him the first parent to be held in the investigation so far.

Shirure was detained after two days of questioning, with investigators alleging that he purchased leaked NEET question papers for his son, who appeared for this year’s medical entrance examination, sources said.

Shirure was taken to Pune on the night of May 20 and is expected to be produced before a Delhi court.

According to investigators, Shirure was allegedly in contact with retired chemistry professor P V Kulkarni and RCC Classes founder Shivraj Motegaonkar, both already under scrutiny in the case. Sources said Shirure’s son had reportedly attended coaching at an institute other than RCC Classes.

Investigators suspect that some parents seeking guaranteed success for their children may have directly approached individuals allegedly involved in sourcing and circulating leaked question papers before the examination.

The arrest comes days after the CBI intensified searches and questioning in Latur and nearby towns following allegations that questions from the NEET-UG 2026 chemistry paper were leaked before the May 3 exam.

The probe had earlier led to the arrest of Motegaonkar and brought Kulkarni under investigation. Officials believe Kulkarni had access to multiple chemistry paper sets prepared before the final paper was selected.

According to the CBI, 43 of the 45 questions in the chemistry section of the final NEET-UG 2026 paper allegedly matched questions circulated earlier through RCC Classes’ “guess paper”.

Investigators say the alleged leak network operated through a chain involving access to question paper sets, distribution through intermediaries, and eventual delivery to selected candidates and families before the exam.

CBI tracks money trail

The agency is now probing the alleged money trail, communication records and financial transactions linked to the procurement of leaked question papers.

Officials indicated that more arrests could follow as investigators examine links between parents, coaching operators and others allegedly involved in the case.

The arrest has sent fresh shockwaves through Latur’s coaching ecosystem, already under intense scrutiny since the allegations emerged.

Known for its “Latur Pattern” model of competitive exam preparation, the city has grown into one of Maharashtra’s biggest NEET and JEE coaching hubs, attracting thousands of students annually from across Marathwada and other parts of the state.

The CBI has not yet officially disclosed the exact amount allegedly paid or the precise mechanism through which the paper was allegedly accessed.