CBI arrests Latur paediatrician, physics tutor in NEET 2026 paper leak case

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two more accused, including a Latur-based paediatrician and a Physics tutor from a coaching centre in NEET UG 2026 Examination paper leak case.

The accused, a Latur based doctor has been arrested for allegedly playing a key role in facilitating three students, including the son of an accused coaching centre owner in getting the Chemistry questions from the accused Kulkarni, retired Chemistry teacher. 

Also read- NEET 2026 paper leak case: Pune school principal shared questions for money, CBI tells court

As per Indian Express media report, a source of the daily reported that the agency was planning to make the doctor as their witness in the case, but after taking legal opinion, they decided to arrest him. 

Another arrested accused is a physics faculty member at a Medical Academy, a Pune-based coaching centre. He got the leaked Physics questions of NEET UG 2026 Exam from arrested accused, Havaldar.

CBI has so far conducted searches at 49 locations at various places and seized several incriminating documents, Laptops, and mobile phones. The agency has arrested 13 accused so far in this case from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nasik, Pune, Latur and Ahliyanagar, AIR news agency reports.

Caoching centre custody extended 

Following the arrest of a Latur-based coaching centre owner, a Delhi court on Tuesday extended the CBI custody of coaching institute founder by one day in connection with the NEET paper leak case.

Special CBI judge Ajay Gupta extended the custody after the agency submitted that further custodial interrogation was required for confrontation with other co-accused, recovery of material evidence and establishing the accused’s role.

As per PTI agency report, the founder of the Coaching Institute was arrested on the evening of May 17 in Latur, and the court sent him to nine days’ CBI custody the next day.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the coaching centre director was praised for raising a voice on behalf of the students during the paper leak controversy in 2024, but has now become one of the accused, reportedly involved with the leak this year. He built one of the largest medical/engineering entrance (NEET/JEE) coaching networks in the state but became a central figure in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the NEET-UG paper leak scandal.

The accused, popularly known as "M Sir”, is a prominent chemistry teacher and founder of the coaching institute in Latur, Maharashtra. He has over 68,000 followers on Instagram and maintains a presence across YouTube, WhatsApp, and his own app on the Play Store. The institute reportedly operates nine branches, with its main centre in Latur, and enrolls around 40,000 students every year.

In its remand application, the CBI had said, "He is involved in the leakage and circulation of NEET UG exam questions-2026 and that, in conspiracy with other accused persons, he had received the chemistry questions and answers of the exam before the examination, i.e., on April 23, 2026."

Pune-based physics lecturer, Havaldar, was sent to six-day CBI custody on Monday.

On May 12, the NTA cancelled the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET, held on May 3 for medical admissions amid allegations of paper leak. A re-examination has been scheduled for June 21.

Also read- Latur Coaching Institute sealed after CBI arrests 'M sir' in NEET 2026 paper leak case