Punjab Newsline | News Delhi
In a significant development in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday produced accused Manisha Gurunath Mandhare before Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court and sought 14 days of custody to deepen its probe into the alleged examination fraud. Mandhare, a senior Botany teacher from Pune and a member of the National Testing Agency (NTA) panel, had served as an expert and translator for the exam, giving her access to sensitive question papers.
The CBI informed the court that the entire examination process followed by the NTA is under scrutiny, while also alleging that Mandhare received money from students in exchange for leaked content. The defence, however, opposed the custody plea, arguing that no incriminating recovery had been made from her residence and that she had already cooperated with the investigation on multiple occasions.
According to officials, Mandhare was apprehended from a hotel in Mathura after days of surveillance and questioning. Investigators claim she played a key role in leaking Biology questions for the May 3 NEET-UG 2026 exam. She allegedly collaborated with Pune-based Manisha Wagmare, who was arrested earlier, to identify and mobilise aspiring candidates.
The probe has revealed that special coaching sessions were conducted at Mandhare’s residence, where students were allegedly given and made to note down questions related to Botany and Zoology. Shockingly, a large number of these questions reportedly matched those in the actual exam, raising serious concerns over the integrity of the testing process.
In the past 24 hours, the CBI conducted raids at six locations across India, seizing laptops, mobile phones, bank records and key documents. So far, nine accused have been arrested from multiple cities, including Delhi, Pune and Jaipur, pointing to a well-organised interstate network involving middlemen and hefty cash transactions.
The agency has reiterated its commitment to a thorough and impartial investigation, as the scandal continues to shake the credibility of one of India’s most crucial entrance examinations.
