The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a senior teacher from Pune in connection with the alleged leak of Biology questions in the NEET-UG 2026 examination, officials said on Saturday.
According to the agency, the accused, identified as Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, was arrested in Delhi after detailed interrogation. She was allegedly involved in leaking questions from the Botany and Zoology sections of the medical entrance examination.
The CBI said Mandhare was associated with the NEET-UG 2026 examination process as an expert appointed by the National Testing Agency and had access to the Botany and Zoology question papers.
Investigators alleged that during April, she mobilised prospective candidates through another accused, Manisha Wagmare, who was arrested earlier from Pune on May 14.
According to the probe agency, Mandhare allegedly conducted special coaching classes for selected students at her residence in Pune, where she discussed and dictated questions related to Botany and Zoology.
“The majority of these questions matched with the actual NEET-UG 2026 examination paper held on May 3,” the agency said in a statement.
The CBI also carried out searches at six locations across the country in the last 24 hours and seized laptops, mobile phones, bank statements and other incriminating documents. Officials said forensic and technical analysis of the seized material is underway.
The case was registered by the CBI on May 12 following a complaint from the Department of Higher Education under the Union Ministry of Education regarding the alleged paper leak.
Soon after the registration of the case, special investigation teams were formed and searches were conducted across multiple states.
So far, nine accused have been arrested from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahilyanagar in connection with the case.
Officials said five of the accused have already been sent to seven-day police custody after being produced before the court for detailed interrogation.
The two accused arrested earlier in Pune were produced before a local court and later brought to Delhi on transit remand.
The agency said the investigation has so far identified the alleged source of the Chemistry and Biology paper leaks and uncovered the role of middlemen who allegedly collected large sums of money from students for access to leaked questions through special coaching sessions.
The CBI said the investigation is continuing and assured that a “comprehensive, impartial and professional probe” is being carried out in the matter.
-ANI
