CBI nabs second mastermind, Pune professor who leaked Biology question paper in NEET-UG paper leak case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested another "paper leak mastermind" Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a senior botany teacher from Pune. As per CBI, the accused was the mastermind behind the Biology question paper leak.

Manisha Mandhare was appointed by the NTA as an expert on the NEET-UG 2026 examination process. Consequently, she had full access to the Botany and Zoology question papers. The investigation revealed that during April 2026, she connected several NEET candidates through Manisha Waghmare of Pune, who was already arrested on May 14, said CBI. 

During these classes she explained and disclosed various questions from Botany and Zoology subjects and made the students note down the same in their notebooks and also mark in their text books. Majority of these questions tallied with the actual question paper of NEET UG 2026 held on May 3. In the last 24 hours, CBI has also conducted searches at six locations across the country and seized several incriminating documents,



Laptops, bank statements and mobile phones.  

So far nine accused have been arrested in this case from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nasik, Pune and Ahliyanagar. Out of these, five accused have already been produced before the court and taken into seven days police custody remand for detailed interrogation. Other two accused who were arrested yesterday have produced before the court in Pune and shifted to Delhi after taking Transit Remand. They are being produced before the Delhi court.

CBI has also intensified searches for two more associates of "paper leak kingpin" PV Kulkarni for their alleged involvement in NEET paper leak. According to sources, two more lecturers, along with PV Kulkarni and Manisha Waghmare, played a key role in the paper leak. The CBI is conducting raids in Pune and Latur in search of the lecturers. PV Kulkarni, the mastermind behind the NEET paper leak was arrested on Friday, May 15 in Pune. He will be produced in a CBI court today after being granted transit remand.