Mumbai (Gurpreet Singh): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has intensified its probe into the alleged NEET-UG paper leak by conducting extensive searches at the main office of Renukai Chemistry Classes (RCC) in Latur, Maharashtra. The federal agency’s operation began on Sunday afternoon in the city’s Shivnagar locality and extended late into the evening. This raid follows an intense eight-hour interrogation of RCC founder Shivraj Motegaonkar at his residence on Friday. Investigators suspect that certain medical professionals in Latur may have purchased the compromised examination papers prior to the national test.
A specialized CBI team has been stationed in Latur for several days after registering a First Information Report (FIR) to look into widespread malpractice surrounding the medical entrance examination. The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA), took place across 551 Indian cities and 14 international centres on May 3, drawing registration from nearly 23 lakh candidates. According to official reports from the NTA, information regarding potential integrity breaches emerged on May 7, prompting an immediate escalation to central law enforcement agencies the following morning for independent verification.
The ongoing investigation has already resulted in multiple arrests across Maharashtra as authorities crack down on the suspected network. On Saturday, federal agents apprehended Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a Pune-based biology lecturer who served on the NTA’s paper-setting committee. Her arrest followed a rigorous interrogation session at the CBI headquarters in Delhi. As the agency continues to review materials seized during the Latur coaching centre raid, further disclosures regarding the scale of the compromise are anticipated.
