The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday said it has identified and arrested the alleged kingpin involved in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case.

According to the agency, the accused, identified as PV Kulkarni, is a Chemistry lecturer associated with the examination process on behalf of the National Testing Agency and allegedly had access to the NEET-UG 2026 question papers.

The CBI said its investigation revealed that during the last week of April 2026, Kulkarni, along with another accused, Manisha Waghmare, organised special coaching sessions for selected students at his residence in Pune. Waghmare was arrested by the agency on May 14.

During the coaching sessions, Kulkarni allegedly dictated questions along with options and correct answers to students. According to the CBI, the questions handwritten by students in their notebooks exactly matched the Chemistry paper of the NEET-UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3.

Kulkarni, a native of Latur, was arrested in Pune following extensive interrogation, the agency said.

The CBI further informed that searches were conducted at multiple locations across the country over the past 24 hours, during which several incriminating documents, electronic devices and mobile phones were seized. Detailed forensic and technical examination of the seized materials is currently underway.

The case was registered by the CBI on May 12 following a written complaint from the Department of Higher Education under the Union Education Ministry regarding allegations of a paper leak in NEET-UG 2026.

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Soon after registering the case, the agency formed special investigation teams and carried out raids at several locations across the country, detaining and questioning multiple suspects.

According to the CBI, seven accused have so far been arrested from Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahilyanagar. Five of them have already been produced before the court and remanded to seven days of police custody for detailed interrogation.

The remaining two accused arrested on Thursday are being produced before a Pune court for transit remand before being shifted to Delhi.

The agency said the investigation has so far identified the alleged source of the Chemistry paper leak and the middlemen who allegedly collected lakhs of rupees from students for access to the special coaching sessions where the leaked question bank was discussed.

The CBI said further investigation into the case is in progress. (with ANI inputs)