NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak: CBI Arrests NTA Expert Accused of Selling Exam Questions for Money
The Central Bureau of Investigation has made sensational revelations in the ongoing NEET-UG 2026 paper leak investigation, alleging that an expert associated with the National Testing Agency leaked confidential examination questions to selected students in exchange for large sums of money.
According to the CBI, the accused, Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, was part of the NTA’s official question-setting panel and allegedly misused her privileged access to confidential exam material for personal financial gain.
Mandhare was arrested on Saturday from a reputed college in Pune and has since been remanded to 14 days of police custody by a Delhi court.
While seeking her custodial interrogation, the agency described Mandhare as one of the “masterminds” behind the leak of Biology questions in the highly competitive medical entrance examination.
Investigators claimed that as an NTA-appointed expert, she had unrestricted access to both Botany and Zoology question papers prepared for NEET-UG 2026.
The CBI further alleged that Mandhare was part of a larger conspiracy involving other accused individuals, including Manisha Waghmare and Prahlad Vittal Rao Kulkarni.
According to investigators, the accused allegedly worked together to identify aspiring medical students willing to pay large amounts in exchange for advance access to exam-related content.
In its submission before the court, the agency stated that Mandhare provided examination-related questions and sensitive material to selected candidates in return for “substantial monetary benefits.”
Officials alleged that during the process of preparing the final NEET question sets, she gained access to the confidential papers and later leaked them to students for financial kickbacks.
The probe agency also claimed that in April 2026, Mandhare allegedly organised special coaching sessions at her residence in Pune for shortlisted NEET aspirants.
According to the CBI spokesperson, these students were allegedly mobilised through co-accused Manisha Waghmare, who reportedly helped connect candidates with the accused network.
Investigators believe Mandhare exploited her insider role within the examination system to selectively share important exam content with students ahead of the test.
The agency alleged that the operation was carefully planned and financially motivated, raising serious concerns about the integrity and security of one of India’s most important entrance examinations.
Mandhare’s arrest came just a day after the CBI arrested Prahlad Vittal Rao Kulkarni from Pune. The agency has identified Kulkarni as one of the key sources involved in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak network.
The controversy surrounding the alleged leak forced authorities to cancel the NEET-UG 2026 examination, creating anxiety and uncertainty among lakhs of medical aspirants across the country.
Officials have now scheduled a fresh examination for June 21 as the investigation into the leak continues to expand.
