‘Expert in paper leaks’: MP KC Venugopal demands Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over NEET row

Thiruvananthapuram: Congress Member of Parliament KC Venugopal launched a scathing attack Saturday on the Union government following the cancellation of the NEET-UG examination, demanding the immediate resignation of the Union Education Minister amid growing allegations of a question paper leak.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Venugopal accused the administration of jeopardising the prospects of millions of students and failing to safeguard the country's competitive examination framework. He asserted that such security breaches have become a hallmark of the current government.

"This is not the first time the NEET question paper has been leaked. So many question papers have been leaked. This government is an expert in paper leaks. They are playing with the future of the students of this country. We need a foolproof system, but they are not working on it. All of this has happened due to the failure of the Education Minister. He must take moral responsibility and step down from his post immediately," Venugopal said.

The controversy surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) has ignited nationwide demonstrations, with student bodies and opposition factions uniting to demand a transparent investigation and comprehensive systemic overhauls.

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CBI Arrests the Alleged Kingpin

The Central Bureau of Investigation, which is spearheading the inquiry into the security breach that invalidated the May 3 examination, announced it has apprehended the suspected mastermind behind the operation.

According to federal investigators, the individual has been identified as P.V. Kulkarni, a Chemistry lecturer who was engaged by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to assist with the examination process. Investigators allege that this role granted Kulkarni direct access to the secure NEET-UG 2026 questionnaires.

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale acknowledged the severity of the controversy, noting that the fraudulent network operates on an interstate scale.

"Paper leak cases keep coming up repeatedly, and in this one, the name of PV Kulkarni, who has connections to Maharashtra, has surfaced... Educated people are turning out to be responsible in these cases... People connected to paper leak cases are being arrested across the country, which shows that its network is spread throughout the nation," Athawale told ANI.

Athawale called for a zero-tolerance policy toward examination irregularities, adding: "Whether it's the NEET exam or any other exam, there should be no errors in it... There is a need to make policies in this direction... Those responsible for paper leaks should face strict punishment. That is our demand."

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Institutional Disavowal and Investigative Findings

Following Kulkarni's arrest, Dayanand Science College, where the suspect was previously employed, issued a statement distancing itself from his alleged criminal activities.

An institutional representative clarified that Kulkarni’s tenure at the college concluded several years prior, stating that he retired as a chemistry teacher four years ago and that the college has no knowledge of his recent activities or whereabouts. The official added that the institution would have no objection to any punitive action deemed appropriate by law.

The CBI's formal findings indicate that during the final week of April 2026, Kulkarni partnered with a co-accused, identified as Manisha Waghmare, to conduct exclusive preparatory sessions for a select group of students at his Pune residence. Waghmare was taken into federal custody on May 14.

"During these coaching sessions, he dictated questions along with options and correct answers. The questions handwritten by students in their notebooks exactly matched the actual Chemistry paper of the NEET-UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3, 2026," the CBI stated.

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Street Protests and Policy Revisions

The cancellation prompted the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) to stage a demonstration outside the NTA headquarters. Protesters brandished heavy locks and chains to symbolise their demand to close the agency, displayed placards, and chanted slogans targeting both the NTA and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The student group accused the federal government of gross ineptitude, calling for a total ban on the NTA alongside Pradhan's resignation. Local authorities detained several demonstrators after a physical altercation erupted between activists and police personnel.

A replacement examination has been scheduled for June 21. In an effort to prevent future security lapses, the Education Minister announced that the NEET-UG will permanently transition to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format beginning next year.

With inputs from ANI