The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Renukai Career Centre founder Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar on Sunday over his alleged involvement in the NEET-UG paper leak, agency officials said on Monday. Motegaonkar was arrested on Sunday evening after the agency recovered a leaked question paper of the examination held on May 3 from his personal mobile phone during searches at his premises, the officials said.
The officials said Motegaonkar was allegedly an "active member of the organised gang" involved in the leakage and circulation of the NEET-UG paper. As part of a conspiracy with other accused persons, Motegaonkar received the question paper and answers on April 23, nearly 10 days ahead of the high stakes examination was held across the country and abroad, the agency said in its grounds for arrest.
The CBI will send the seized mobile phone for forensic analysis to recover deleted data, if any, they said.
The CBI, currently probing the alleged NEET-UG paper leak, conducted extensive searches at the main office of Renukai Chemistry Classes (RCC) in Latur, Maharashtra, on Sunday. According to a report citing official sources, CBI officials arrived at the institute’s Shivnagar premises in the afternoon, with the operation continuing well into the evening. This development follows the recent circulation of a viral video showing RCC founder Shivraj Motegaonkar asking students how many of their mock test questions had appeared in the actual NEET examination.
Prior to the office search, the central agency questioned Motegaonkar for nearly eight hours at his residence on Friday. Investigators suspect that certain doctors based in Latur may have purchased the leaked examination paper. The federal agency has registered a First Information Report (FIR) and deployed dedicated teams to investigate the breach, which ultimately led to the cancellation of the nationwide test.
Originally held on May 3, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) was administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA) across 551 Indian cities and 14 overseas centres, drawing registrations from around 22.79 lakh candidates. The NTA stated that it received inputs regarding alleged malpractice on the evening of May 7, four days after the exam concluded. These inputs were escalated to central agencies the following morning for independent verification and necessary action.
The CBI has already made several arrests in Maharashtra linked to the case. Among those detained is Pune-based biology lecturer Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, who was a member of the NTA's paper-setting committee. Following these widespread allegations, the NTA has officially cancelled the May 3 examination on May 12. A re-examination has now been scheduled for June 21.
Also read: NEET-UG leak: CBI arrests second alleged 'kingpin'
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