New Delhi, May 16: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a senior Botany teacher from Pune in connection with the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, with investigators claiming that she played a key role in leaking questions from the Biology section of the examination.
The arrested teacher has been identified as Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, who was reportedly appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) as an expert associated with the NEET-UG 2026 examination process.
CBI officials stated that the accused allegedly had direct access to the Biology question paper and is suspected to be one of the co-masterminds behind the leak.
The arrest marks the second major detention of an academic professional from Pune in the ongoing investigation after the earlier arrest of Chemistry professor P.V. Kulkarni.
Investigators stated that Mandhare allegedly conducted special coaching sessions for selected students at her residence in Pune during April 2026, weeks before the NEET examination was held.
The CBI alleged that the students were mobilised through Pune-based consultant Manisha Wagmare, who had earlier been arrested by the agency on May 14.
During the coaching sessions, the accused allegedly dictated and explained several Biology questions to students and instructed them to note down the questions in notebooks and identify related portions in textbooks.
Investigators claimed that a significant number of those questions later matched the actual Biology questions that appeared in the NEET-UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3.
The examination was subsequently cancelled following allegations of a nationwide paper leak and irregularities in the conduct of the test.
The CBI stated that in the last 24 hours, searches were conducted at six locations across different parts of the country as part of the expanding investigation.
During the searches, officials reportedly seized laptops, mobile phones, bank records and other documents believed to be connected to the alleged paper leak network.
Digital and forensic examination of the seized material is presently underway.
The case was formally registered by the CBI on May 12 following a written complaint submitted by the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education.
The complaint pertained to allegations of leakage of the NEET-UG 2026 examination paper. The investigation has since expanded across several states including Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
CBI officials stated that multiple special investigation teams were formed immediately after registration of the case to identify the source of the leaked papers and track the network involved in circulating examination material.
So far, nine accused persons have been arrested from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahilyanagar in connection with the case. Five accused persons have already been produced before courts and remanded to police custody for detailed interrogation.
Two other accused arrested on Friday were produced before a court in Pune before being shifted to Delhi after transit remand approval.
Investigators stated that the probe has so far revealed details regarding the alleged source of leakage of both Chemistry and Biology question papers along with the involvement of middlemen operating across different states.
The agency alleged that the middlemen were responsible for identifying students willing to pay large sums of money in exchange for advance access to likely examination questions. The investigation has also brought renewed scrutiny on the functioning of coaching networks and private consultants allegedly involved in facilitating access to leaked examination material.
The NEET-UG examination is one of India’s largest and most competitive entrance examinations for admission to undergraduate medical courses across the country. The cancellation of the 2026 examination affected more than 22 lakh candidates nationwide and triggered widespread concern among students and parents over examination security and transparency.
The National Testing Agency has already announced that the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination will now be conducted on June 21.
The CBI stated that further investigation is continuing and additional arrests are likely as the agency examines the wider interstate network allegedly involved in the paper leak racket.
