CBI arrests ‘mastermind’ linked to NEET-UG 2026 biology paper leak

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday, May 16, 2026, arrested a biology lecturer from Pune in connection with the 2026 NEET-UG paper leak case.

Manisha Gurunath Mandhare was appointed as an expert by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and was involved in the examination process this year.

“He had full access to botany and zoology question papers. In April 2026, he mobilized potential NEET exam aspirants through Manisha Waghmare of Pune (already arrested on May 14) and conducted private coaching classes for these students at his residence in Pune,” the agency said.

According to the CBI, during these lectures, Ms. Mandhare explained and explained various questions on botany and zoology subjects, making students note the same in their notebooks and also marked them in their textbooks. CBI said that majority of these questions match the actual question paper of the NEET UG 2026 exam held on May 3.

In the last 24 hours, the CBI conducted searches at six locations across the country and seized laptops, bank statements and mobile phones.

The agency has so far arrested nine accused in the case. Pune-based chemistry lecturer PV Kulkarni was arrested on charges of leaking chemistry questions. The agency claimed to have access to the question papers because it was allegedly involved in the examination process on behalf of NTA.

In the last week of April 2026, she allegedly also mobilized the students with the help of the beauty parlor owner, Ms. Waghmare. The ‘King’ held private coaching classes for them at his home in Pune and dictated the questions, answer options and correct answers which the students wrote in their notebooks. The questions reportedly matched exactly those on the actual exam paper.

Others arrested in the case are Dhananjay Lokhande from Ahilyanagar and Shubham Khairnar from Nashik in Maharashtra; Mangilal Biwal, Vikas Biwal and Dinesh Biwal from Jaipur, Rajasthan; and Yash Yadav from Gurugram, Haryana

The CBI registered the case on May 12 following a written complaint from the Higher Education Department of the Ministry of Education. Special teams were formed to find clues and track beneficiaries and suspects, including those involved in the distribution of a “guess” paper that closely matched the actual article.

NTA appointees

The Center on Saturday appointed two Joint Secretaries and Joint Directors respectively in NTA.

As per an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Anuja Bapat, a 1998 batch officer of the Indian Statistical Service, and Ruchita Vij, a 2004 batch officer of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS, Customs and Indirect Taxes), will be the new Joint Secretaries of the NTA for five years.

In a separate order, DoPT said IRS (Income Tax) officer Akash Jain and Indian Audit and Accounts Service officer Aditya Rajendra Bhojgadhiya have been appointed as Joint Directors in NTA.

(With inputs from PTI)