NEET UG 2026 paper leak: CBI arrests Physics expert linked to question leak

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested another accused in the NEET UG 2026 paper leak case, intensifying its probe into what investigators describe as a nationwide network involving educators, middlemen, coaching operators, and exam insiders accused of leaking subject-wise question papers before the medical entrance examination.

The latest arrest is Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, an employee of Seth Hiralal Saraf Prashala in Pune, Maharashtra, who was appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) as a Physics expert and allegedly had direct access to the NEET UG 2026 Physics question paper.

According to investigators, Havaldar shared several Physics questions in April with co-accused Manisha Mandhare, a Biology expert from Pune who was arrested earlier in the investigation.

“The CBI has identified another key accused who was the source for the leak of NEET UG 2026 physics questions,” a CBI spokesperson said.

“She had complete access to the physics question paper. In April, she shared some of the questions with co-accused Manisha Mandhare,” the agency added.

Officials said the leaked questions allegedly matched those that later appeared in multiple NEET UG 2026 paper sets, strengthening the agency’s case regarding insider involvement in the examination process.

With Havaldar’s arrest, the total number of accused arrested in the case has risen to 11. Arrests have been made from multiple cities, including Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune, Latur, and Ahilyanagar.

The agency has also carried out searches at several locations across the country, seizing laptops, mobile phones, bank records, digital documents, and other materials currently undergoing forensic examination.

Investigators believe the alleged leak operation involved a wider network that mobilized students willing to pay large sums for access to expected questions before the exam.

According to the probe, selected students were allegedly called to confidential coaching sessions where leaked questions were discussed in exchange for lakhs of rupees.

The scandal erupted after allegations surfaced that portions of the NEET UG 2026 paper had been leaked before the May 3 examination, eventually forcing the NTA to cancel the exam on May 12. A re-examination has now been scheduled for June 21.

The investigation has also uncovered the alleged role of subject experts involved not only in paper-setting but also in translation work.

CBI officials found that arrested Biology expert Manisha Gurunath Mandhare allegedly helped translate Botany and Zoology sections of the paper, giving her access to a larger portion of the examination content than previously known.

Another accused, retired Chemistry lecturer P V Kulkarni from Latur, was allegedly involved in translating the paper into Marathi.

Investigators claim Mandhare conspired with several co-accused, including Manisha Waghmare and Kulkarni, to circulate questions among selected candidates.

“In April 2026, she mobilized prospective NEET examination candidates through Waghmare and conducted special coaching classes for these students at her Pune residence. Initial investigation has revealed that she got full access to the question papers after she was asked by the NTA to translate selective questions,” a source associated with the investigation said.

Officials alleged that the accused provided exam-related content to selected students in exchange for “substantial monetary benefits."

The investigation has further highlighted concerns over how translators and subject experts were given access to confidential examination material.

Sources said the NTA typically appoints two translators for each regional language, and some paper setters are also involved in translation work to reduce the number of people handling question papers. However, investigators are now examining whether this system itself became vulnerable to misuse.

The NEET UG paper consists of 180 questions covering Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. According to investigators, some leaked “guess papers” circulating before the examination allegedly matched actual questions in wording, sequence, and punctuation.

One of the earliest people to publicly flag similarities between the leaked material and the actual paper was Rajasthan-based Chemistry teacher Shashikant Suthar from Sikar.

Suthar claimed he compared a viral PDF circulating in Telegram groups before the exam with the actual NEET paper and found major overlaps.

"Someone known to me approached me after the NEET examination was over on May 3 and showed me the PDF of the guess paper," Suthar said.

"They wanted to know whether questions from it appeared in the actual paper. I was shocked to see that all Chemistry questions appeared exactly as they were in the NEET 2026 paper," he added.

According to reports, nearly 140 questions allegedly matched the real paper.

Suthar said he later informed authorities and was contacted by both investigators and NTA officials.

"The NTA approached me over the phone. I informed them about the details I had regarding the paper leak. Within hours, officials from the investigating agency, the SOG, reached out to me. CBI officials have also met me," he claimed.

He further alleged that he attempted to inform local police on the night of May 3 itself. "I went to the Udhyog Nagar police station that night and tried to explain the matter," Suthar said.

The controversy has since expanded into a major national issue involving parliamentary scrutiny, protests, and political confrontation over examination security.

The NTA recently told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education that “only certain questions came out” and maintained that there was no “full-fledged paper leak."

According to sources, NTA officials argued before the panel that instances of malpractice did not amount to a complete breach of the paper.

However, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan publicly acknowledged a “breach in the chain of command” and said the government was taking responsibility for the lapse.

“Despite following the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan committee, there was a breach in the command chain. We accept it and take responsibility to improve it,” Pradhan said earlier.

The minister also described the leak as the work of an “education mafia” and promised strict action.

The CBI investigation has now shifted focus toward the alleged financial network behind the leak.

Officials questioned a senior pediatrician from Maharashtra’s Latur, Manoj Shirure, who allegedly paid ₹12 lakh to obtain leaked question papers for his son.

Investigators claimed Shirure later circulated the papers to several other doctors and relatives.

The agency has seized digital evidence, documents, and mobile phones from multiple accused and is now examining financial transactions linked to the alleged racket.

One of the high-profile accused, coaching institute operator Shivraj Motegaonkar, was arrested after investigators allegedly recovered leaked NEET question papers from his mobile phone.

According to the CBI, Motegaonkar received the leaked paper and answer keys on April 23, nearly 10 days before the exam.

“He is close to P V Kulkarni, chemistry lecturer, who is associated with the NTA. Searches conducted at his institute and residence resulted in the recovery of the chemistry question bank, which contained the same questions that appeared in the NEET exam held on May 3,” the agency said.

The controversy has also triggered administrative changes in several states. Karnataka announced that it would proceed separately with engineering and professional course counseling instead of waiting for NEET results.

“Keeping the interests of students in mind, we'll go ahead with counseling for engineering and other courses,” Karnataka Higher Education Minister Dr MC Sudhakar said.

Meanwhile, Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary announced free government bus travel for NEET candidates appearing in the June 21 re-examination.

The NTA has also activated an online refund portal for candidates affected by the cancellation of the earlier exam. Students can submit bank details through the official portal until May 27 to receive fee refunds directly into their accounts.

The NEET UG 2026 re-examination will be conducted on June 21 from 2 pm to 5.15 pm under tighter security arrangements.

Authorities said fresh admit cards will be issued and additional monitoring mechanisms introduced following widespread criticism over the integrity of the original examination process.