NEET 2026 Paper Leak: Pune Professor Arrested as Kingpin by CBI

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested PV Kulkarni, a chemistry professor from Pune, identifying him as the 'kingpin' behind the alleged leak of the NEET-UG 2026 question paper. This development follows the cancellation of the medical entrance examination, which was scheduled for May 3 and subsequently called off on May 12, 2026, after the paper leak was exposed. Kulkarni, who was involved in the examination process on behalf of the National Testing Agency (NTA), allegedly had access to the question papers. According to the CBI, in the last week of April 2026, he mobilized students with the assistance of another accused, Manish Waghmare (arrested on May 14), and conducted special coaching classes at his Pune residence. During these classes, he reportedly dictated the questions along with their options and correct answers, which were then handwritten by students in their notebooks. The CBI stated that these dictated questions exactly tallied with the actual question paper of NEET-UG 2026. This marks the first time in the 13-year history of the NEET exam that it has been entirely cancelled. A total of 22.79 lakh students had appeared for the entrance examination, which is crucial for admission to undergraduate medical and dental programs across India. The Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, announced that the re-examination would be held on June 21, 2026. He also indicated that from the following year, the test would be conducted in an online mode. The CBI has reported that seven accused individuals had been arrested up to Thursday, May 14, 2026, from various parts of the country. The investigation into the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak, which occurred on May 5, 2024, had previously revealed a complex network of middlemen, school officials, and students involved in malpractice. The CBI's investigation into the 2024 leak had identified that the paper was illicitly accessed from Oasis School in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, on the morning of the exam. In that instance, sophisticated tools were used to open the trunks containing the question papers, which were then photographed and circulated. The Supreme Court of India, in its proceedings concerning the 2024 leak, acknowledged that at least 155 students had directly benefited from the paper leak. However, the court ruled that there was no evidence of a systemic failure beyond isolated incidents and declined to order a re-examination for the entire 2024 exam due to a lack of credible proof of widespread irregularities. The current arrest of Kulkarni in the 2026 case highlights ongoing concerns about the integrity of the NEET examination process. The NTA, responsible for conducting NEET-UG, has faced scrutiny following these incidents. The arrest of Kulkarni as the alleged 'kingpin' suggests a deeper investigation into how individuals with access to examination materials are leveraging their positions for fraudulent purposes. The focus of the investigation will likely remain on uncovering the full extent of the network involved in the leak and ensuring robust measures are in place to prevent future occurrences. The cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 exam and the subsequent re-examination underscore the seriousness of the paper leak allegations and the impact on lakhs of aspiring medical students. The government's commitment to conducting the re-examination and exploring online modes for future tests aims to restore confidence in the examination system. The CBI's ongoing investigation is crucial to identify all individuals involved and dismantle the organized malpractices that have plagued the NEET examination.

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