Six Pune-Linked Accused Among 13 Named In CBI Charge Sheet In NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak Case

Pune/New Delhi, 28h July 2026: Six people with professional or operational links to Pune, including three subject experts appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA), are among 13 accused named by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in its charge sheet in the NEET-UG 2026 question paper leak case.

According to the CBI, the charge sheet is supported by the statements of 360 witnesses, 422 documents and 43 material objects. All 13 accused are currently in judicial custody.

The accused have been charged with criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, destruction of evidence and other offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The charge sheet also invokes provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

Six accused have Pune links

The Pune-linked accused are Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, Prahlad Vithalrao Kulkarni, Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, Manisha Sanjay Waghmare, Dhananjay Nivrutti Lokhande and Tejas Harshadkumar Shah.

Mandhare worked as a senior Biology teacher in the junior college section of Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce in Pune. She was appointed by the NTA as a subject expert and allegedly had access to the Botany and Zoology questions. The CBI alleges that she conducted special coaching sessions at her Pune residence and discussed questions that subsequently matched those in the May 3 examination.

Kulkarni, a retired Chemistry lecturer who spent much of his teaching career in Latur, had settled in Pune and conducted coaching sessions from his home. He was associated with the NEET examination process on behalf of the NTA. According to the CBI, he allegedly dictated Chemistry questions, answer options and correct answers to selected students before the examination.

Havaldar was the principal of Seth Hiralal Saraf Prashala in Pune’s Budhwar Peth and had been appointed by the NTA as a Physics expert. The CBI alleges that she had access to the Physics question papers and shared several questions with co-accused Mandhare. Investigators reportedly found that the shared questions matched those appearing in the examination.

Waghmare, a Pune-based beautician and beauty-parlour operator from the Sukhsagar Nagar-Bibwewadi area, has been described as an alleged middleperson and a key local link in the network. The agency alleges that she helped identify prospective candidates, mobilised students for special coaching sessions and connected different members of the alleged network.

Lokhande is originally from Rahuri in Ahilyanagar district but had reportedly been operating a career-counselling firm in Pune. The CBI alleges that he received examination-related material from Waghmare and passed it to Nashik-based accused Shubham Khairnar as part of the distribution chain.

Shah was a Physics faculty member and chief operating officer at Dr Abhang Prabhu Medical Academy, a Pune-based coaching institute. The CBI alleges that he obtained leaked Physics questions from Havaldar.  

Seven accused linked to other cities

The other accused named in the charge sheet are Shubham Madhukar Khairnar of Nashik; Yash Yadav of Gurugram; Mangilal Biwal, Vikas Biwal and Dinesh Biwal from the Jaipur region; Dr Manoj Bhagwanrao Shirure, a Latur-based doctor; and Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, founder-director of the Latur-based Renukai Career Centre, popularly known as RCC.

The CBI alleges that Khairnar received the material through Lokhande and passed it to Yadav in Gurugram. The material was allegedly circulated further to members of the Biwal family in Rajasthan.

Shirure allegedly facilitated access to Chemistry questions for three students, including the son of an accused coaching-centre owner. Motegaonkar is accused of obtaining Chemistry questions from Kulkarni before the examination.  

The CBI registered the case on May 12 following a complaint from the Department of Higher Education under the Union Ministry of Education. The complaint concerned the alleged unauthorised circulation of examination-related documents before the NEET-UG test conducted on May 3.

The agency formed multiple investigation teams comprising 72 officers and personnel, assisted by eight cyber-forensic experts. Searches were conducted at 92 locations across Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi and other places, leading to the seizure of digital devices, communication equipment and documents.

Investigators also examined the alleged money trail and froze several bank accounts, lockers and a demat account linked to the accused. Digital-forensic reports, handwriting-expert opinions and assessments from academic experts were obtained during the investigation.

The CBI said further investigation and forensic examination were continuing.

Note: The allegations against the 13 accused are subject to adjudication by the court.