NEW DELHI / PUNE — The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has intensified its nationwide crackdown on the NEET-UG 2026 examination paper leak network, arresting a pediatrician from Latur and a premium coaching institute faculty member from Pune.

With these two high-profile detentions on Wednesday, the total number of individuals arrested by the premier central agency in connection with the medical entrance scam has risen to 13.

Latur Doctor and Pune Faculty Exposed in Paper Dissemination

The latest breakthrough comes after days of technical surveillance, digital data retrieval, and coordinated raids across 49 locations nationwide. The CBI identified the newly arrested suspects as:

• Dr. Manoj Shirure: A well-known pediatrician running a private clinic in Latur’s Old Ausa Road area.
• Tejas Harshadkumar Shah: A specialized Physics faculty member at the Dr. Abhang Prabhu Medical Academy (APMA) in Pune.

According to agency officials, Dr. Shirure did not just secure papers for his own family networks but functioned as a key conduit for high-value clients. He allegedly facilitated immediate access to leaked Chemistry questions for select aspirants, sourcing the material from the state module’s suspected kingpin, retired professor P.V. Kulkarni.

Meanwhile, the probe into the Pune module revealed that Physics teacher Tejas Shah allegedly acquired leaked Physics sets through a parallel distribution line involving co-accused Manisha Havaldar. The CBI asserts that these leaked question banks were then systematically distributed during “secret tuition sessions” days before the national competitive exam was conducted on May 3.

The Rs 100-Crore Coaching-Insider Nexus

The arrests have sent shockwaves through Maharashtra’s hyper-competitive coaching capitals of Latur and Pune. The CBI’s investigation indicates that the paper leak was an organized, multi-tiered corporate operation rather than a localized security lapse.

“Our forensic analysis of seized laptops, mobile devices, and Telegram logs indicates that the question sets were leaked as early as April 23—ten days before the exam,” a senior CBI investigator stated. “The racketeers target wealthy parents and charge between $\text{Rs 10 lakh to Rs 30 lakh}$ per paper, using mock test shortlists to identify potential buyers.”

The network reportedly established links directly with elements inside the National Testing Agency (NTA) ecosystem, including suspended college professors who served on question-setting and translation panels. The massive public and political outcry following the leak has already forced the Ministry of Education to announce a comprehensive NEET re-examination scheduled for June 21, alongside a transition to computer-based testing starting next academic year.

Widening Scope of the Investigation

The case was formally handed over to the CBI on May 12, 2026, following a written directive from the Ministry of Education’s Department of Higher Education.

Special specialized units are currently stationed across multiple states, mapping out operations across Delhi, Gurugram, Jaipur, Nashik, and Latur. The agency has moved a special application before a Delhi court to secure specimen signatures and biometric verification of the primary accused to match handwriting samples found on recovered physical prints of the leaked question sheets.