CBI uncovers cash bribes for leaked medical entrance questions

Central Bureau of Investigation officials informed a special court on Wednesday that a Latur coaching owner paid Rs 5 lakh to an NTA panel member for early access to chemistry questions. Thousands of aspiring doctors from states like Odisha invest years preparing for this exact exam, making such regional breaches devastating for deserving candidates across India.

Chemistry Questions Sold For Cash

Investigators allege coaching director Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar bought the test content directly from P V Kulkarni, an official National Testing Agency panelist tasked with setting the exam. Motegaonkar reportedly sent his own son to Kulkarni's private tutorial classes to safely receive the compromised material. After securing the specific content, he created detailed handwritten notes to distribute to his students.

Digital Evidence Found On Phone

Forensic analysis of a confiscated mobile device revealed 36 images displaying 132 handwritten chemistry problems. Agency officials confirmed that 111 of these entries exactly matched the final NEET UG 2026 master question set. Furthermore, metadata extraction proves these photographs were captured roughly ten days before the scheduled May 3 examination date. Investigators claim the handwriting in the pictures belongs to Motegaonkar himself.

Thirteen Suspects Remain In Custody

Authorities successfully seized the original bribe money with guidance from another arrested suspect named Manoj Bhagwanrao Shirure. Currently, 13 individuals sit in judicial custody regarding this expanding fraud network. Government administrators officially scrapped the original May test due to these widespread corruption claims and subsequently held a mandatory replacement examination on June 21 to restore fairness for all medical hopefuls.