NEET-UG Paper Leak: In another major breakthrough in the NEET-UG paper leak case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday arrested Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, owner of a prominent coaching centre, Renukai Chemistry Classes (RCC), in Maharashtra's Latur. Motegaonkar, reportedly known as "M Sir" among his students, was arrested after CBI found a copy of NEET-UG paper on his mobile phone during searches in Latur on Sunday.
According to the CBI, Motengaonkar was an active member of the organised gang involved in the leakage and circulation of the NEET UG paper. He allegedly received the question paper 10 days before the medical entrance exam conducted by NTA on May 3 and circulated the leaked question paper via WhatsApp to several other persons.
Motegaonkar's arrest is seen as the second big arrest in the NEET-UG paper leak case after Pune Professor PV Kulkarni, who was a part of the NTA panel overseeing the NEET question papers. He allegedly dictated the questions along with the options and correct answers to students during his special coaching classes with the help of another arrested accused, Manisha Waghmare.
Who Is Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, Also Known As M Sir?
Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar is a chemistry scholar who runs the Renukai Chemistry Classes in Maharashtra's Latur. According to his website, Motegaonkar was born on February 2, 1980 and is a gold-medal winning M.Sc. Chemistry scholar.
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Motegaonkar's RCC Pattern (coaching centre) has established itself as a prominent coaching centre across Maharashtra. He is well known among the aspirants as a successful chemistry teacher and education entrepreneur.
He is known as "M Sir" among his students. Reportedly, around 40,000 students are part of his coaching networks annually.
NEET-UG Paper Leak: What CBI Found Against Raghunath Motegaonkar?
According to CBI, Motegaonkar circulated the leaked question papers and answer sheets to several people in the form of handwritten notes. The copies were allegedly destroyed once the examination was held on May 3, 2026.
Raghunath Motegaonkar was arrested after the CBI sleuths found the NEET-UG question paper during searches at his coaching centre in the Shivnagar locality of Latur on Sunday. Motegaonkar was questioned for nearly eight hours on Friday at his residence in the same area.
As part of a conspiracy with other accused persons, Motegaonkar received the question paper and answers on April 23, nearly 10 days ahead of the NEET-UG exam, which was conducted on May 3. The CBI will send the seized mobile phone for forensic analysis to recover deleted data, if any.
NEET-UG Paper Leak Case: Lecturers Under Scanner
Besides Motegaonkark, the CBI had earlier arrested a chemistry lecturer, PV Kulkarni, and a biology lecturer, Manisha Mandhare, both known to each other through a woman, Manisha Waghmare, who is also in CBI custody. The two lecturers had allegedly roped in Waghmare to bring in NEET aspirants for special sessions before the examination.
Students allegedly paid several lakh rupees to attend the sessions where they wrote the questions down in their notebooks, which later "tallied exactly" with the actual NEET-UG paper, the officials said. The CBI has registered an FIR and formed teams to probe the alleged paper leak that resulted in the cancellation of the exam.
The exam was conducted across 551 Indian cities and at 14 overseas centres. Nearly 23 lakh candidates had registered for the test, which was administered by the NTA across the country.
According to the NTA, information regarding alleged malpractice was received on the evening of May 7, four days after the exam was held. The NTA said the inputs were escalated to central agencies the following morning for "independent verification and necessary action".