NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two individuals in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 examination paper leak case, raising the total number of arrests to 13. The arrested suspects include Dr. Manoj Shirure, a doctor from Latur, and Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, a faculty member at a coaching center.
Dr. Shirure is accused of playing a pivotal role in providing leaked Chemistry questions to three students, notably the son of the owner of a coaching center. Investigators report that he obtained these questions through another suspect in the case, identified as P.V. Kulkarni.
Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, who teaches physics at the Dr. Abhang Prabhu Medical Academy (APMA) in Pune, is alleged to have accessed leaked Physics questions, which were obtained from Manisha Havaldar, who is currently in custody.
The CBI initiated its investigation on May 12, 2026, following a formal complaint from the Department of Higher Education within the Ministry of Education. Upon taking over the case, the CBI established specialized teams and conducted extensive nationwide operations. To date, searches have been executed across 49 locations, leading to the seizure of laptops, mobile phones, and various incriminating documents.
The investigation has extended to multiple cities, including Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune, Latur, and Ahilyanagar. CBI officials indicated that efforts are ongoing to trace the source of the leaked Physics, Chemistry, and Biology questions, which were disseminated before the exam. Multiple special teams are working collaboratively to uncover the entire conspiracy network, and forensic analysis of the seized digital evidence is currently in progress to ensure a thorough examination.
