Beautician emerges as key link in NEET-UG 2026 paper leak probe, says CBI

The Central Bureau of Investigation’s probe into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case has uncovered what investigators describe as a crucial network linking students, intermediaries and insiders involved in the alleged leak of examination papers before the national medical entrance test was cancelled.

At the center of the investigation is 46-year-old Pune beautician Manisha Waghmare, who investigators believe acted as a “common link” between students searching for tuition teachers and faculty members from reputed institutions. According to sources familiar with the probe, the same network was allegedly later used to circulate leaked NEET-UG question papers to candidates for hefty sums of money.

Waghmare, who runs a beauty parlour in Pune’s Sukhsagar Nagar area, was arrested by the CBI on May 14. A special court remanded her and co-accused P. V. Kulkarni, a retired teacher, to 10 days of CBI custody beginning May 16.

In a major development on Sunday, a Delhi court granted the CBI 14 days’ custody of another accused, 57-year-old Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, who was allegedly part of the National Testing Agency’s question-setting panel for NEET-UG 2026. Investigators have identified Mandhare as one of the alleged masterminds behind the leak.

The CBI told the court that Mandhare had direct access to the final Botany and Zoology question papers through her role as an NTA-appointed expert. The agency alleged that she leaked confidential examination content to selected students in return for “substantial monetary gains”.

According to court submissions made by the CBI, Mandhare conspired with co-accused Waghmare and Kulkarni to distribute examination material before the test. Investigators alleged that she used her access during the paper-setting process to obtain the final question sets and later passed them on for financial benefit.

Sources associated with the investigation said Waghmare allegedly learned about Mandhare’s involvement in the paper-setting process and devised a plan to exploit the access. Kulkarni was allegedly brought into the arrangement afterward.

Investigators believe Waghmare played a key operational role by identifying students willing to pay for the leaked paper. She was allegedly in contact with several aspirants and families who had previously approached her seeking recommendations for tuition teachers. During the probe, officials reportedly found evidence suggesting deals worth nearly Rs 10 lakh per student.

The accused allegedly agreed to split between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh among themselves from each transaction.

According to investigators, Waghmare allegedly arranged four to five students and later informed her acquaintance Dhananjay Nivrutti Lokhande about the operation. Lokhande then allegedly contacted Nashik-based counselling operator Shubham Khairnar.

Khairnar became the first accused to be arrested shortly after authorities cancelled the NEET-UG examination last week following allegations of a widespread leak. Investigators alleged that Lokhande obtained the leaked papers from Waghmare and transferred them to Khairnar, who then circulated PDF copies to multiple individuals, including Gurugram resident Yash Yadav and candidates based in Jaipur.

Yadav was later arrested as part of the expanding investigation.

The CBI informed the court that the case points to a much larger organised racket and that several suspects are yet to be identified and apprehended. Seeking extended custody for Mandhare, the agency argued that the investigation was still at a “very initial and crucial stage”.

“The police custody of the accused has been sought in order to unearth the larger conspiracy and to arrest the other active members of this organised paper leak gang and for the recovery of all the relevant incriminating material,” the agency told the court.

Counsel appearing for Mandhare opposed the CBI’s plea for extended custody, arguing that the accused was a 57-year-old lecturer who had been cooperating fully with investigators and that custodial interrogation was unnecessary.

The NEET-UG 2026 controversy has triggered nationwide outrage among students and parents, reigniting concerns over the security and integrity of competitive examinations in India. The case has also intensified scrutiny of the National Testing Agency, which has faced criticism in recent years over alleged lapses in exam administration and paper security.