NEET 2026 Exam Leak: Accused Sent to CBI Custody

The Rouse Avenue court has granted CBI nine days custody of Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, arrested in relation to the NEET UG 2026 paper leak. Accused of orchestrating the leak, Motegaonkar will aid CBI in identifying other accomplices and uncovering the conspiracy's full scope, including financial trails.

The Rouse Avenue District Court has ordered a nine-day CBI custody of Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, apprehended in Pune over allegations linked to the NEET UG 2026 exam paper leak. The Central Bureau of Investigation believes Motegaonkar played a pivotal role in the conspiracy by leaking a chemistry paper prior to the national test.

The custody, sanctioned by Special CBI Judge Ajay Gupta, follows the CBI's request for ten days detention to further their probe. The agency aims to identify Motegaonkar's co-conspirators and analyze digital data and communication linked to the paper leak. The court emphasized the investigation's nascent stage and ordered a medical examination during his detention.

Motegaonkar, who runs a coaching institute in Maharashtra, allegedly distributed the leaked paper and is suspected of collaborating with other accused, including Prahalad Kulkarni. Evidence suggests the questions were disseminated well before the May 3 examination. The CBI underscores the need for custodial interrogation to dismantle the broader network and prevent future breaches.