The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested the founder of a coaching centre in Maharashtra’s Latur in connection with the NEET UG paper leak case, with investigators alleging that he was part of an organised network that obtained question papers before the examination and circulated them among selected candidates for illegal financial gain.
Arrest in Latur After Surveillance and Raids
The accused has been identified as Shivraj Motegaonkar, founder and director of a coaching centre in Latur. According to the CBI, the arrest followed several days of surveillance and questioning as part of the wider investigation into the leak.
Officials said raids were carried out at Motegaonkar’s residence on May 14, during which allegedly leaked NEET UG question papers were recovered from his mobile phone. The agency is treating the recovery of the material from the device as a significant development in the case.
The arrest has added to concerns over the security of one of India’s largest entrance examinations and has widened the investigation beyond earlier suspects and locations.
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Probe Points to Wider Syndicate
According to preliminary findings cited by the agency, Motegaonkar was not acting alone but was linked to a broader organised network that allegedly procured question papers and answer keys before the examination and distributed them further through digital channels.
The CBI said that Motegaonkar and his associates allegedly obtained illegal copies of question papers and answers on April 23. Investigators now believe that the syndicate operated across multiple states and may have involved several intermediaries working in coordination.
Officials have also indicated that the case may not be confined to a single coaching centre. The agency said the recovered digital evidence is undergoing forensic examination to establish links among those involved and determine how the material moved through the network.
NTA Links and Further Arrests Under Scrutiny
The CBI has also suggested that some individuals linked to the National Testing Agency may be connected to the racket, though the agency said detailed investigation on that aspect is still under way. The possibility of such links has intensified scrutiny over the examination process and the handling of confidential material.
After his arrest, Motegaonkar was questioned for more than seven hours, and investigators said they obtained important leads during the interrogation. The agency alleges that the network provided advance access to question papers to candidates in return for money.
Officials said more arrests are likely as new names continue to emerge during the analysis of mobile data, chat records and financial transactions. The case has also triggered fresh debate over examination reforms, with student groups calling for strict action and a deeper inquiry into how the alleged leak was allowed to take place.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
