In what it describes as a significant development in the NEET question paper leak probe, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a chemistry lecturer from Pune, identifying him as the alleged main conspirator behind the breach that impacted nearly 23 lakh candidates.

The agency confirmed that PV Kulkarni, originally from Latur in Maharashtra, was taken into custody and is the eighth person arrested in the case so far. According to officials, he had legitimate access to examination materials through his association with the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the NEET medical entrance examination. Investigators allege that he misused this access to pass on questions in advance.

Kulkarni reportedly ran private tuition sessions from his Pune residence under the name “Raj Coaching Classes.” During a class held in the final week of April—days before the May 3 NEET exam—he is said to have dictated a series of questions along with answer choices and correct responses. Students wrote these down in their notebooks.

Officials revealed that when those handwritten notes were later compared with the official question paper, several questions were found to match exactly. This correlation, investigators say, pointed directly to someone connected to the exam process.

A woman identified as Manisha Waghmare, who allegedly facilitated contact between students and Kulkarni, had been arrested earlier. Authorities claim she enticed aspirants by promising access to leaked papers and assistance with medical college admissions, charging substantial sums before directing them to the professor.

The probe is now expanding to trace the broader network and determine how widely the leak spread across states. In the past day, the CBI conducted searches at multiple locations nationwide, seizing documents, electronic gadgets and mobile devices for forensic examination.

The agency registered the case earlier this week following a complaint from the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education. Special investigation teams were formed immediately to examine the scope of the breach.

So far, arrests have been made in Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahilyanagar. Five accused were presented before a court and remanded to custody for further questioning.