CBI arrests Pune lecturer in NEET UG 2026 paper leak case

The CBI arrested a Pune-based lecturer for allegedly leaking the NEET UG 2026 physics paper to aspirants. The agency said the accused had access to the question paper through her role as an expert appointed by the National Testing Agency

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Pune-based lecturer for allegedly leaking the physics paper of NEET UG 2026 to a select group of aspirants, officials said on Friday.

The CBI arrested Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, presently employed with Seth Hiralal Saraf Prashala in Pune, terming her another “source” in the paper leak case.

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

The agency alleged that Havaldar was involved in the NEET UG process after being appointed as an expert by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

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

The CBI arrested Mandhare, a botany teacher from Pune, in connection with the NEET paper leak on May 16.

The agency found that the questions Havaldar allegedly shared with aspirants matched the physics paper of NEET UG 2026.

“The CBI conducted searches at various locations across the country and seized several incriminating documents, laptops, bank statements and mobile phones. A detailed analysis of the seized items is underway,” the agency said.

On May 12, the NTA cancelled the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET, held on May 3 for medical admissions amid allegations of a paper leak. A re-examination has been scheduled for June 21.

The CBI registered a case in the matter on the same day based on a written complaint by the Department of Higher Education under the Education Ministry.

“So far, 11 accused have been arrested in this case from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune, Latur and Ahilyanagar,” the CBI spokesperson said.

The investigation so far has revealed the alleged source of the paper leak, the agency said.

“The middlemen involved in mobilising students who paid lakhs of rupees to attend special coaching classes where the leaked questions were shared have been identified and arrested,” the spokesperson said.