New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday made the eighth arrest in the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, with chemistry professor PV Kulkarni being taken into custody from Pune.
According to the CBI, Kulkarni is believed to be the alleged mastermind behind the paper leak network. Investigators said he is originally from Latur and is considered a chemistry domain expert who had previously served on panels involved in preparing NEET examination papers for several years.
The agency claimed Kulkarni had direct access to examination content and allegedly ran coaching classes from his residence in Pune, where he would reportedly provide students with likely questions and correct answers ahead of the exam.
CBI officials further alleged that during the last week of April, Kulkarni, along with co-accused Manisha Waghmare, distributed leaked question papers to several students before the May 3 NEET-UG examination.
Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding the alleged leak has triggered widespread anger and emotional distress among aspirants. Reports said a 20-year-old girl in Delhi, a 21-year-old youth from Lakhimpur Kheri and a 17-year-old boy from Goa allegedly died by suicide after being distressed over the examination controversy.
