18 May,2026 06:40 PM IST | Latur (Maharashtra) | mid-day online correspondent
Earlier, on Sunday, the CBI conducted searches at the main office of Renukai Chemistry Classes. File Pic/AFP
Shiv Sena workers staged a protest outside the Renukai Career Centre (RCC) headquarters in Maharashtra's Latur on Monday after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested the institute's founder, reported the PTI.
The accused identified as Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar was held by the CBI in connection with the alleged NEET paper leak case, the news agency reported.
Supporters of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena gathered outside the coaching centre, raised slogans against Motegaonkar and threw ink on RCC signboards.
Protesters accused him of damaging the future of lakhs of students by allegedly participating in the examination leak racket.
Police personnel were deployed outside the building after large crowds, including students and parents, started gathering at the site from the morning.
The officials maintained security to prevent any untoward incident during the protest, according to the PTI.
The CBI arrested Motegaonkar after conducting searches at the coaching institute in Latur's Shivnagar area. According to agency officials, investigators recovered a leaked NEET-UG question paper from his personal mobile phone.
Officials alleged that Motegaonkar was an "active member" of an organised network involved in leaking and circulating the NEET-UG examination paper.
The agency claimed that he had received the question paper and answer key on April 23, around 10 days before the examination was conducted.
CBI officials had earlier questioned Motegaonkar for nearly eight hours at his residence on Friday as part of the ongoing probe. The agency is investigating the wider network allegedly linked to the leak.
The NEET-UG examination was conducted on May 3 across 551 cities in India and 14 overseas centres. Nearly 23 lakh candidates had registered for the entrance test.
The examination was later cancelled after reports of alleged malpractice surfaced on May 7. Authorities have announced that a re-examination will be held on June 21.
Earlier, on Sunday, the CBI conducted searches at the main office of Renukai Chemistry Classes as part of its investigation into the alleged NEET paper leak case, sources said, reported the PTI.
Officials from the central agency began the search operation at the coaching institute located in Shivnagar area during the afternoon. The searches continued till late evening.
The development came two days after the CBI questioned RCC founder Shivraj Motegaonkar for nearly eight hours at his residence in the same locality.
According to sources, investigators suspect that some doctors from Latur may have purchased the allegedly leaked NEET examination paper, the news agency reported.
(with PTI inputs)
