Two more arrests push total to 13; Maharashtra emerges as operation hub

The Central Bureau of Investigation made significant headway Wednesday in unravelling the NEET examination paper leak, apprehending two additional accused and bringing the total arrests to 13. The latest detentions mark another layer peeled back in what officials now suspect is a far larger conspiracy than initially apparent.

Dr Manoj Shirure of Latur has been named in connection with sourcing chemistry question papers for three students, including the son of a coaching centre owner already under scrutiny. The arrangement, investigators say, involved coordination with PV Kulkarni, another arrested accused in the case.

The second arrest Wednesday was Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, a physics faculty member at the Pune-based Dr Abhang Prabhu Medical Academy (APMA). Shah allegedly obtained leaked physics papers from Manisha Havaldar, herself arrested earlier in the investigation.

The five-state network

What initially appeared as isolated irregularities now reads as an organised distribution operation spanning Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and three other states. Maharashtra has emerged as the epicentre—the point from which the leaked question bank was allegedly circulated outward to students across state lines.

"Maharashtra functioned as the main centre of the operation," a CBI official confirmed. Rajasthan ranks second in the alleged distribution chain, though investigators remain cautious about drawing final conclusions while the probe remains active.

The scale of the racket, however, remains unclear. The investigating team has not yet determined how many students purchased or benefited from the leaked papers. This uncertainty is driving the agency's current focus toward financial trails.

Tracing the money trail

The CBI is now methodically building lists of parents and guardians whose bank accounts transferred funds to the primary accused—Shivraj Motegaonkar, PV Kulkarni, and associate Manisha Waghmare, all connected to the Pune operation. Bank records are expected to reveal the extent of the conspiracy and identify additional beneficiaries who may not yet be on investigators' radar.

The agency has already conducted searches across 49 locations, seizing documents, laptops, and mobile phones that are likely to yield digital evidence of coordination among the accused.

Beyond the arrested individuals, several external players connected to the National Testing Agency remain under suspicion. The CBI's planned raids in other states are expected to either clear or deepen suspicions around these individuals.

Cancellation and refund deadline looms

For the 23 lakh candidates affected by the May 3 examination, the clock is ticking. The NTA opened a special refund portal Friday, allowing students to submit bank account details for fee reimbursement following the test cancellation announced May 12.

The portal remains operational until late evening May 27—just hours away—making Wednesday night a critical deadline for affected candidates to complete their applications.

The NEET-UG examination was held May 3 across 551 cities and 14 international centres. Irregularities surfaced May 7 evening, prompting an immediate handover to central agencies. Nine days later, the NTA cancelled the examination, concluding that the integrity of the test had been compromised.

What's next

The investigation shows no signs of slowing. The CBI's statement that the paper leak could be "even bigger in scale" suggests investigators are only beginning to understand the full scope. Additional arrests appear likely as the financial analysis progresses and digital evidence from seized devices is processed.

For coaching centres, educational institutions, and the broader NEET ecosystem, the probe has raised uncomfortable questions about oversight and security protocols. The NTA is expected to announce details of the re-examination and updated security measures in the coming days.