NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case: CBI identifies another mastermind, Pune Botany teacher arrested
NEET-UG 2026 paper leak row: Another key accused, Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a Senior Botany Teacher from Pune, Maharashtra, has been arrested in Delhi. Reportedly, she had complete access to the Botany and Zoology question papers.
by Zee Media Bureau · Zee NewsNEET-UG 2026 paper leak row: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has reportedly identified another mastermind who was the source for the leak of NEET-UG 2026 Examination Biology questions. This comes just days after the medical entrance examination was cancelled over alleged paper leaks.
According to the news agency ANI, a key accused, Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, who is a Senior Botany Teacher from Maharashtra's Pune, has been arrested in Delhi after thorough interrogation by the CBI.
She was involved in the NEET-UG 2026 examination process and appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) as an expert.
It is reported that she had complete access to the Botany and Zoology question papers. During April 2026, she had mobilised prospective NEET examination candidates through Manisha Wagmare of Pune, who was already arrested on Thursday, and conducted special coaching classes for these students at her Pune residence.
During these classes, she explained and answered various questions on Botany and Zoology, and asked the students to note them down in their notebooks and mark them in their textbooks. The majority of these questions tallied with the actual question paper of the NEET exam held earlier on May 3, 2026.
CBI probe into the case
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. A detailed analysis of the seized items is going on.
Meanwhile, 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 7-day police custody remand for detailed interrogation.
The other two accused, who were arrested on Friday, have been produced before the court in Pune and shifted to Delhi after taking a transit remand.
Re-examination on June 21
NTA on Friday announced that the re-examination for NEET-UG 2026 will be conducted on June 21.
In a post on X, the NTA informed, "NEET (UG) 2026 -- Examination Date Announced. The National Testing Agency, with the approval of the Government of India, has scheduled the re-examination of NEET (UG) 2026 on Sunday, 21 June 2026."
NEET 2026 exam paper leak case
NEET-UG 2026, conducted on May 3, was cancelled by the NTA on May 12 following allegations of a coordinated paper leak.
The exam is considered the country's largest undergraduate medical entrance test. It was held across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad, covering more than 5,400 centres and involving over 22 lakh candidates.
The case is currently being probed by the CBI, which registered an FIR under provisions related to criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, and destruction of evidence, along with offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examination Prevention of Unfair Means Act, 2024.
(with ANI inputs)