Pune Biology Teacher Sent To 14-Day CBI Custody In NEET Paper Leak Case
Pune/New Delhi, 18th May 2026: A special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Delhi has remanded Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a biology teacher arrested from Pune in connection with the widely discussed NEET paper leak case, to 14 days of police custody.
According to investigators, Mandhare was associated with the examination process and had links to the botany and zoology sections of the examination papers. She was questioned in Delhi before being formally arrested in the case.
The investigation has revealed that another accused, Bibwewadi-based beauty parlour owner Manisha Waghmare, had allegedly invited Mandhare to her residence to guide students preparing for the NEET examination. During these sessions, Mandhare allegedly provided students with information related to examination questions and purportedly accurate answers, officials said.
After these details surfaced during the investigation, the CBI arrested Mandhare and produced her before the special CBI court in Delhi on Sunday.
The matter was presented before Special Judge Rashmi Kujur by CBI Deputy Superintendent of Police Pawan Kumar, who is investigating the case.
Appearing for the CBI, advocates V.K. Pathak and Darshan Lal argued that the accused had conspired together in the NEET paper leak case. They informed the court that the alleged mastermind, Professor P.V. Kulkarni, along with Manisha Waghmare, had already been arrested.
The CBI told the court that Mandhare was linked to the National Testing Agency (NTA) examination process and had allegedly collected money from students under the pretext of providing special guidance. The agency further claimed that she had shared details of examination questions and correct answers with students.
The prosecution submitted that nine accused persons have been arrested so far in the case and sought 14 days of police custody for Mandhare to conduct a detailed investigation and carry out joint interrogation of the accused.
Accepting the arguments presented by the CBI, Special Judge Rashmi Kujur ordered that Mandhare be remanded to 14 days of police custody.
