The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged that Latur-based coaching centre owner Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar paid ₹5 lakh to obtain leaked chemistry questions for the NEET (UG) 2026 examination from P. V. Kulkarni, a member of the National Testing Agency (NTA) panel responsible for setting the paper. The allegations were made before a special court on Wednesday while the agency opposed Motegaonkar's bail plea.

According to the CBI, Motegaonkar was part of a criminal conspiracy to procure confidential examination material before the medical entrance test. The agency claimed that Kulkarni, who also conducted chemistry coaching classes attended by Motegaonkar's son, allegedly provided the leaked questions during these sessions. Investigators have alleged that Motegaonkar subsequently prepared handwritten notes based on the questions shared in the classes, which were later used in connection with the examination.

In its submission before the court, the CBI said it had recovered Motegaonkar's mobile phone during the investigation. Forensic examination of the device allegedly revealed 36 images, including five duplicate images, containing 132 handwritten chemistry questions. Investigators stated that these handwritten questions formed a crucial part of the evidence collected during the probe into the alleged paper leak. The agency further claimed that an analysis of the recovered material showed a substantial overlap with the official examination content.

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According to the CBI, 111 of the 132 handwritten questions allegedly matched the questions included in the National Testing Agency's master question sets prepared for NEET (UG) 2026. The agency argued that this similarity strongly supports its allegation that confidential examination material was accessed and circulated before the test. Opposing Motegaonkar's bail application, the CBI maintained that the alleged payment of ₹5 lakh and the recovery of handwritten questions indicate his active involvement in the conspiracy.

The agency told the court that the evidence collected so far points to a deliberate effort to illegally obtain examination questions before the conduct of one of India's most competitive entrance examinations. It argued that the seriousness of the allegations and the ongoing investigation warranted the rejection of the bail plea. The NEET paper leak case has emerged as one of the most closely watched examination fraud investigations in recent years, prompting multiple arrests and extensive scrutiny of the examination process.

The CBI has been investigating allegations of leaked question papers, unauthorised access to confidential material and the involvement of coaching centres and other individuals linked to the examination ecosystem. Authorities have said the probe remains ongoing, with investigators continuing to examine digital evidence, financial transactions and the roles of other accused persons. The court is expected to consider the CBI's submissions while deciding Motegaonkar's bail application, even as the agency continues its wider investigation into the alleged irregularities surrounding NEET (UG) 2026.

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