NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak Probe Deepens: CBI Arrests Third Teacher Linked to Physics Question Paper

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday arrested another teacher in connection with the widening NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak Case, taking the total number of arrests in the high-profile investigation to 11.

The latest arrest comes just days after the agency detained two other teachers allegedly involved in handling confidential examination material for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), one of India’s most competitive medical entrance examinations.

According to CBI officials, the newly arrested accused had direct access to the NEET-UG 2026 Physics question paper during the examination preparation process and is suspected of leaking portions of the paper before the exam was conducted.

Pune Teacher Arrested Over Alleged Physics Paper Leak

The arrested teacher has been identified as Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, who is currently employed at Seth Hiralal Saraf Prashala in Pune.

According to the CBI, Havaldar had been appointed by the National Testing Agency as an expert associated with the NEET-UG 2026 examination process.

Investigators allege that because of her role, she had complete access to the Physics question papers prepared for the national medical entrance examination.

Questions Allegedly Shared Before Exam

The CBI claims that during April 2026, Havaldar allegedly shared several Physics questions with co-accused Manisha Mandhare.

Mandhare had already been arrested earlier on May 16 as part of the same investigation.

According to agency officials, investigators later compared the questions allegedly shared by Havaldar with the actual Physics questions that appeared in the NEET-UG 2026 paper sets.

The CBI stated that the questions matched, strengthening suspicions of an organised leak involving insiders connected to the examination process.

Probe Reveals Wider Access to Examination Material

Investigators now believe the leak may have involved multiple subject experts with access to different sections of the paper.

According to sources familiar with the investigation, Manisha Mandhare, a Biology expert associated with Modern College of Arts, allegedly had access not only to Biology content but also to both Botany and Zoology sections of the examination.

Officials suspect that this gave her broader exposure to the paper than initially believed.

The expanding investigation has raised concerns over how confidential examination material was handled within the system and whether security protocols at multiple stages were compromised.

Retired Chemistry Lecturer Also Under Arrest

Another accused already arrested in the case is P V Kulkarni, a retired Chemistry lecturer from Dayanand Junior College in Latur.

According to investigators, Kulkarni was allegedly involved in translating portions of the NEET paper into Marathi.

Translation experts appointed for multilingual national examinations often gain access to sensitive question material, making them critical points in examination security chains.

The CBI believes the leak network may have exploited these access points.

Alleged Conspiracy Involving Multiple Individuals

The agency has further alleged that Mandhare conspired with several co-accused individuals, including:

• Manisha Waghmare
• P V Kulkarni
• Other unidentified collaborators

Officials suspect the accused may have coordinated the sharing, circulation or transmission of examination content before the test.

The investigation is now examining whether the leak was financially motivated and whether candidates or coaching-linked intermediaries benefited from the alleged conspiracy.

Raids Conducted Across Multiple Cities

As part of the ongoing probe, the CBI carried out searches at several locations across different states.

According to the agency, investigators seized:

• Laptops
• Mobile phones
• Bank account records
• Financial documents
• Digital storage devices
• Other incriminating material

Officials said detailed forensic and digital forensic analysis of the seized electronic evidence is currently underway.

Investigators are particularly focusing on:

• Chat records
• File transfers
• Deleted data recovery
• Financial transactions
• Communication between the accused persons

Total Arrests Reach 11

So far, the CBI has arrested 11 people in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak investigation.

The accused were reportedly detained from multiple cities, including:

• Delhi
• Jaipur
• Gurugram
• Nashik
• Pune
• Latur
• Ahilyanagar

The spread of arrests across several states has strengthened suspicions that the alleged leak operation may have functioned through a coordinated interstate network.

NEET Controversy Continues to Shake Public Confidence

The latest arrests come amid growing public anger over repeated controversies surrounding major competitive examinations in India.

The NEET examination is considered one of the country’s most important entrance tests, with lakhs of students competing every year for limited medical seats.

For aspirants and families, allegations of paper leaks are particularly devastating because:

• Students spend years preparing for the exam
• Families invest significant financial resources
• Admissions depend heavily on merit and rankings
• Even minor irregularities can alter outcomes dramatically

The controversy has once again triggered debate over the integrity and security of high-stakes examinations conducted by central agencies.

Questions Being Raised About Examination Security

The investigation has also reignited concerns regarding the examination ecosystem itself.

Experts say national-level exams involving:

• Multiple languages
• External paper setters
• Translation experts
• Moderators
• Printing networks
• Digital handling systems

create numerous points where confidentiality can potentially be compromised if safeguards fail.

The alleged involvement of experts officially appointed by the National Testing Agency has made the controversy even more serious.

Pressure Mounting on NTA

The National Testing Agency has already faced intense criticism over recent examination controversies, including allegations of leaks, result delays and procedural lapses in multiple exams over the past few years.

Opposition parties, student groups and educational activists have increasingly questioned:

• The agency’s operational structure
• Oversight mechanisms
• Vendor management systems
• Digital security practices

The latest arrests are likely to deepen scrutiny over how confidential question papers were accessed and allegedly circulated.

Investigation Expected to Expand Further

CBI officials indicated that the probe is still ongoing and more arrests may follow as digital and financial evidence is analysed.

Investigators are now expected to focus on:

• Money trails
• Coaching centre links
• Candidate beneficiaries
• Internal communication networks
• Additional examination insiders

Legal experts say the investigation could eventually expose a much larger organised system if evidence confirms coordinated leaks involving multiple stages of the examination process.

Larger Crisis of Trust

Beyond the criminal investigation itself, the NEET paper leak controversy reflects a deeper crisis of trust in India’s competitive examination system.

For millions of students, examinations like NEET represent life-changing opportunities tied directly to years of sacrifice, academic pressure and family expectations.

When allegations emerge that confidential papers may have been leaked through insiders entrusted with conducting the examination itself, the emotional and institutional impact becomes enormous.

As the CBI investigation widens, the case is no longer just about leaked questions — it has become a test of whether India’s examination system can restore credibility, transparency and fairness for an entire generation of students.