CBI Arrests Latur Coaching Director in NEET-UG Paper Leak Case

Leaked question paper found on phone as agency nabs 10th accused

The Central Investigation Bureau (CBI) on Monday arrested Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, the director of a prominent chemistry coaching centre in Latur, marking the tenth arrest in the ongoing probe into the NEET-UG paper leak. Highly placed sources in the agency confirmed that a leaked copy of the examination paper was recovered directly from Motegaonkar's mobile phone during a high-stakes search operation conducted late Sunday evening.

Organised racket operating across states

Initial reports indicate that Motegaonkar was an active part of a highly organised syndicate involved in the illegal procurement and circulation of national-level competitive exam material. According to officials, the accused and his associates managed to get their hands on both the question paper and the answer key as early as April 23, following which the material was shared with a select group of individuals for hefty sums of money.

The arrest followed an intense eight-hour questioning session at Motegaonkar’s residence on May 15. The accused runs Renukai Chemistry Classes (RCC), a major coaching hub with a presence across Latur and six other districts in Maharashtra.

Search operations yield incriminating digital evidence

On Sunday, federal investigators raided the main corporate office of RCC, seizing a cache of documents, hard drives, and electronic communication devices. Local authorities confirmed that the coaching institute commands an annual turnover of roughly ₹100 crore, raising suspicions about the financial scale of the racket.

"The CBI suspects that multiple medical aspirants were given covert access to the leaked questions right inside the coaching facility premises," a source close to the development said under condition of anonymity. Investigators are also looking into a network of local doctors in Latur who allegedly purchased the papers for their children.

Inside access via paper-setting committee

The investigation has thrown up startling revelations regarding the breach within the National Testing Agency (NTA). The federal agency claims that Manisha Mandhare, who was recently arrested, was part of the NTA’s confidential paper-setting panel, giving her direct access to the final question set.

Before the scheduled exam date, Mandhare reportedly organised exclusive, closed-door coaching sessions in Pune, where students were instructed to memorise specific questions from the Botany and Zoology sections. The CBI has so far arrested nine other accused from a network stretching across Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune, and Ahilyanagar, while a fresh raid was conducted at a residential property in Nanded on Sunday.

Political storm erupts over repeated leaks

Meanwhile, the development has triggered a major political row in New Delhi. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi took to X on Sunday to hit out at the central government over its handling of national competitive exams. Gandhi pointed out that while the NEET 2024 paper leak faced severe criticism without any accountability, the repetition of the crisis with the NEET 2026 paper leak represents a systemic failure.

He questioned why the Union Education Minister has not been dismissed from his cabinet position despite back-to-back security lapses that continue to jeopardise the future of millions of students across the country.

Restructuring at NTA and upcoming re-exam

In a bid to control the damage, the Central Government has initiated a major administrative overhaul within the NTA. Four senior bureaucrats have been inducted into the testing body to clean up the system. IRS officers Akash Jain and Aditya Rajendra Bhojgadhia have assumed charges as Joint Directors, while Anuja Bapat and Ruchita Vij have been posted as Joint Secretaries for a five-year tenure.

The NEET-UG exam, which saw nearly 23 lakh students appear across 551 Indian cities and 14 overseas centres on May 3, was officially cancelled on May 12 after irregularities were detected. The NTA has now scheduled a nationwide re-examination for June 21.

Apex court moved for dissolution of testing body

As the CBI widens its net, the legal battle has reached the steps of the highest court. The United Doctors Front (UDF) has approached the Supreme Court of India through advocates Ritu Renival and Mahendra Kumawat, filing a petition that demands the complete dissolution of the NTA.

The petitioners have urged the court to direct the Parliament to enact a new law creating an independent, foolproof National Testing Body. The plea also seeks the immediate setting up of a court-monitored committee to oversee upcoming national entrance tests to restore public trust in the examination system.

Anger is growing among teachers across Madhya Pradesh after the state government made it mandatory for teachers appointed before the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act to pass the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). Several teachers’ unions have strongly opposed the decision and warned of intensified protests if the government fails to reconsider the order.

More than 1.5 lakh teachers appointed after 1995 and their families—estimated at around 4.5 lakh people—are expected to be affected by the rule. Teachers’ organizations have urged the state government to file a review petition in the Supreme Court, arguing that their appointments were made according to the recruitment rules that were valid at the time.

Why Teachers Are Protesting the Mandatory TET Exam Order

The controversy began after the School Education Department issued instructions stating that teachers appointed before the implementation of the RTE Act 2009 must clear the TET exam to continue in service.

The Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI), Bhopal, directed divisional and district education officers to identify such teachers and ensure they appear for the examination.

Key points of the order include:

• Teachers with more than five years left before retirement must appear for the TET exam.

• They have a two-year deadline to clear the exam.

• Failure to pass the exam within the time limit may lead to removal from service.

• The proposed TET examination is likely to be held in July–August 2026.

The decision has triggered widespread concern among teachers who say they were recruited legally under earlier rules and should not be subjected to new eligibility criteria after decades of service.

Teachers’ Unions Seek Government Intervention

State Teachers’ Association Provincial President Jagdish Prasad Yadav said meetings will be held across all districts on March 15 to finalize the next course of action.

According to Yadav, the first step will be to request the Madhya Pradesh government to file a review petition in the Supreme Court.

He explained that after the central government implemented the Right to Education Act in 2009, Madhya Pradesh adopted the law in 2011. Recruitment processes conducted before that were based on the rules existing at that time.

He also pointed out that several states—including Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir—have already filed review petitions and secured relief in similar cases.

“If the government does not file a petition, teachers’ organizations themselves will approach the Supreme Court,” Yadav said.

Major Protest Planned in Bhopal on April 12

The State Teachers’ Union has announced a large protest in Bhopal on April 12.

Union President Bharat Patel said teachers will meet Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and School Education Minister Uday Pratap Singh to demand a review petition.

Patel questioned the fairness of the order, saying:

• Government employees are not repeatedly tested after recruitment.

• Teachers who have served for decades should not face uncertainty now.

He added that unions have deliberately postponed protests until mid-March to avoid disturbing students during ongoing examinations.

Protests Likely to Intensify After March 15

Teachers’ groups say they do not want ongoing school examinations and student results to be affected. However, once exams conclude, protests may intensify across the state.

Union leaders warn that if the government fails to address their concerns, statewide demonstrations could escalate in April, potentially affecting the education system.

Conclusion

The dispute over the mandatory TET exam order in Madhya Pradesh has quickly turned into a major issue in the state’s education sector. With teachers demanding legal intervention and the government standing by the Supreme Court directive, the coming weeks could see heightened protests and possible court action.