CBI Arrests Pune-Based Botany Teacher in NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak Probe, Second Key Accused with Links to Pune Arrested in 24 Hours
New Delhi/Pune, 15th May 2026: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Pune-based senior Botany teacher in connection with the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, claiming she was one of the key sources behind the leak of Biology questions in the examination.
The accused, identified as Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, was arrested in Delhi after extensive questioning by the agency. According to the CBI, Mandhare was associated with the NEET-UG 2026 examination process and had been appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) as an expert, giving her access to Botany and Zoology question papers.
Investigators alleged that during April 2026, Mandhare contacted prospective NEET candidates through Manisha Wagmare of Pune, who was arrested earlier on May 14. The CBI claimed that Mandhare conducted special coaching sessions for selected students at her residence in Pune, where she allegedly disclosed several questions from Botany and Zoology and asked students to note them down in notebooks and textbooks.
According to the agency, a majority of the questions allegedly shared during these sessions matched the actual NEET-UG 2026 examination paper conducted on May 3.
The CBI said it has identified Mandhare as one of the masterminds in the alleged paper leak conspiracy.
In the past 24 hours, the agency also conducted searches at six locations across the country and seized several documents, laptops, bank statements and mobile phones. Officials said the seized material is being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.
Earlier, the agency has arrested P V Kulkarni, a retired teacher who was associated with NTA from Pune.
So far, nine accused have been arrested in the case from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahilyanagar. Of them, five accused have already been produced before a court and remanded to seven days of police custody for further interrogation.
Two other accused arrested earlier in Pune were produced before a local court and later shifted to Delhi after obtaining transit remand. They are expected to be produced before a Delhi court.
