In a fresh twist in the ongoing CBI probe into the paper leak row that led to the 2026 NEET exam cancellation, the agency arrested P.V. Kulkarni, a retired chemistry professor from Maharashtra's Latur.
Calling him the "kingpin" behind the NEET scam, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has pointed out that Kulkarni had a direct role in the scam—he was the source of the leak because he was allegedly involved in the examination process on behalf of the National Testing Agency (NTA).
The retired professor was a Chemistry subject expert, and was questioned by the CBI over his alleged role in setting NEET question papers, as per a Hindustan Times report.
CBI has identified a kingpin who was the source of the NEET-UG 2026 Examination paper leaks. Investigation revealed that P.V. Kulkarni, Chemistry Lecturer involved in the process of examination on behalf of NTA. He had access to the question papers. During the last week of April,… pic.twitter.com/icXldxRCTf
— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2026
However, THE WEEK could not independently confirm whether he had been tasked with setting this year's paper.
Officials have said that Kulkarni had retired from a reputed college four years ago, but was reportedly able to access this year's questions because he was a part of the NEET's paper-setting committee for Chemistry.
News of the Delhi NEET student's death comes just a day after a 17-year-old teenager from Goa died by suicide due to the exam cancellation.
— THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) May 15, 2026
(neet student goa teenager suicide, neet-ug cancellation paper leak row cbi)https://t.co/GknZYWyRdo
The agency added that in the last week of April 2026, Kulkarni had mobilised students with the help of another accused—a beautician named Manisha Waghmare, who has already been arrrested in connection with the NEET scam on May 14.
After gathering the students, he is said to have conducted special coaching classes for them at his residence in Pune, where he allegedly dictated the questions along with options and the correct answers.
These were handwritten by students in their notebooks, and have exactly tallied with the actual question paper of the May 3 NEET-UG examination, the agency pointed out.
Kulkarni is now the eighth person to be arrested by the CBI amid widespread backlash over the NEET scam. This follows the arrests of Dhananjay Lokhande, Shubham Khairnar, Manisha Waghmare, Yash Yadav, Mangilal Biwal, Dinesh Biwal, and Vikas Biwal.
As the CBI probe into the NEET scam continues, the NTA—which is facing major backlash—is scheduled to conduct the re-exam on June 21, for which admit cards will be released on June 14, 2026, according to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
