CBI Arrests Key Accused in Major NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak Scandal
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested key suspects, including retired lecturer P.V. Kulkarni and translator Manisha Mandhare, for orchestrating the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. Exploiting their roles within the National Testing Agency, they allegedly distributed questions to students via coaching centers in Pune. This breach affected over 2.27 million aspirants, leading to the exam's cancellation and a scheduled retest. A Delhi court remanded the accused to custody as investigations expand across multiple states to dismantle the syndicate and restore integrity to India’s medical entrance system.
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Delhi court extends judicial custody of five NEET paper leak accused till June 15
A Delhi court on June 2, 2026, extended the judicial custody of five accused in the NEET paper leak case until June 15. Special Judge Ajay Gupta granted the CBI's plea for extension of custody for Mangilal Khatik, Vikas Biwal, Dinesh Biwal (arrested from Jaipur), Yash Yadav (arrested from Gurugram), and Dhananjay Lokhande (arrested from Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra). The court also allowed accused Yash Yadav's request for books to prepare for the rescheduled NEET exam. On June 1, three other accused—physics lecturer Manisha Sanjay Hawaldar, paediatrician Dr. Manoj Shirure, and physics teacher Tejas Harshadkumar Shah—were sent to 14 days of judicial custody. The CBI has arrested 13 people in total. The NTA cancelled the May 3 NEET-UG exam on May 12 due to paper leak allegations, and a re-examination is scheduled for June 21.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Delhi Court Sends Three Accused in NEET Paper Leak Case to 14 Days Judicial Custody
A Delhi court on June 1, 2026, sent three accused in the NEET-UG paper leak case to 14 days of judicial custody. Special Judge Ajay Gupta granted the CBI's plea against physics translator Manisha Sanjay Hawaldar, Latur-based paediatrician Dr. Manoj Shirure, and physics teacher Tejas Harshadkumar Shah. The CBI alleged that Hawaldar conspired to distribute the exam paper for money, Shirure facilitated students in obtaining chemistry questions from paper setter P.V. Kulkarni, and Shah received leaked physics questions from Hawaldar. The NTA cancelled the May 3 NEET exam due to the leak, with a retest scheduled for June 21. A total of 13 accused have been arrested in the case, including alleged kingpin Kulkarni and coaching centre operator Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.NEET was supposed to be leak-proof in 2026. Here’s how the system built to protect the exam failed
The NEET-UG 2026 medical entrance exam in India, taken by over 20 lakh students, was compromised despite a new security framework (CONOPs) implemented after the 2024 leak. The CBI has arrested 13 people, including paper translators and subject experts. The article reveals that the leak occurred during the paper-setting phase, which was supposed to be the most secure. Two key failures are identified: inconsistent enforcement of CONOPs protocols and a leadership vacuum when the person who built the framework left at a critical time. Unlike the 2024 leak, which happened during paper transportation, the 2026 breach involved trusted insiders embedded in the paper-setting process. The government has acknowledged the failure internally, and the Education Ministry and NTA have not commented.
"site:indianexpress.com" - Google NewsNEET Paper Leak: Court Extends Hawaldar's CBI Custody, Remands Mandhare to Judicial Custody
A Delhi court on May 30, 2026, extended the CBI custody of accused Manisha Sanjay Hawaldar by two days and remanded co-accused Manisha Mandhare to 14 days of judicial custody in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. Hawaldar, a physics translator empanelled by the National Testing Agency (NTA), is alleged to have retained and distributed the exam paper for money. Mandhare, a biology lecturer and part of the NTA paper-setting committee, is accused of conspiring to distribute the paper. The court also issued notice to the CBI on the bail application of another accused, Manisha Waghmare, who cited medical grounds. The CBI has arrested 13 individuals so far, including alleged kingpin P.V. Kulkarni, a chemistry lecturer. The NTA cancelled the May 3 NEET-UG exam due to the leak, with a retest scheduled for June 21.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.CBI Probe Finds NEET Candidates Forced to Surrender Original Documents as Collateral for Leaked Questions
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the leak of NEET-UG 2026 exam questions has uncovered that accused individuals used two methods to extract payment from candidates. In one method, candidates paid upfront for leaked questions. In the other, candidates were forced to surrender original identity and academic documents, which were returned only after they appeared for the exam and paid the agreed amount. Searches recovered original documents of at least 12 students. The CBI has made 13 arrests so far, including a Latur-based physician, Dr. Manoj Shirure, and a Pune coaching faculty member, Tejas Harshadkumar Shah. The probe also revealed that a Chemistry question bank recovered from a coaching institute contained questions identical to those in the actual exam. The leak originated from Yash Yadav in Gurgaon, who passed the paper to Mangilal Biwal in Rajasthan via Telegram for Rs 10 lakh.
The Indian ExpressCBI arrests doctor and physics teacher in NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, total arrests reach 13
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested two more individuals on May 27, 2026, in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, bringing the total number of arrests to 13. The arrested include Manoj Shirure, a Latur-based doctor accused of facilitating three students in obtaining chemistry questions from paper setter P.V. Kulkarni, and Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, a physics teacher at a Pune coaching institute who allegedly received leaked physics questions from accused Manisha Havaldar. The National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the May 3 exam on May 12 amid leak allegations and has scheduled a re-examination for June 21. The CBI has conducted searches at 49 locations and seized documents, laptops, and mobile phones as the investigation continues.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.CBI Uncovers Conspiracy in NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak Involving Professors and Coaching Centers
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is intensifying its probe into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, focusing on a conspiracy network centered in Latur, Maharashtra. Investigators suspect that P.V. Kulkarni, a former chemistry professor and NTA subject expert, leaked exam questions to selected students through special coaching sessions. The inquiry has also implicated Manisha Mandare, a botany lecturer, who allegedly accessed and distributed biology questions. These leaks were facilitated by middlemen and coordinated with major coaching institutes, particularly Renukai Chemistry Classes owned by Shivraj Motegaonkar. Motegaonkar was interrogated for eleven hours after a video surfaced showing him discussing question overlaps between mock tests and the actual exam. The CBI has conducted raids across multiple locations, seizing electronic devices and financial records to trace the extent of the network. The investigation highlights a collaboration between academic insiders and private coaching entities to compromise the integrity of the national medical entrance examination. Authorities are examining digital evidence to confirm how questions were transmitted and which students benefited from this illicit arrangement.
India Today | Latest StoriesCBI Identifies Teacher as Mastermind in NEET Paper Leak Conspiracy for Profit
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has identified Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a 57-year-old expert on the National Testing Agency’s question-setting panel, as a primary mastermind in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak scandal. A Delhi court granted the CBI 14 days of custody for Mandhare, who allegedly leaked Botany and Zoology question papers to selected candidates in exchange for substantial monetary benefits. The investigation revealed a conspiracy involving Mandhare, retired teacher P V Kulkarni, and beautician Manisha Waghmare. Waghmare acted as a crucial intermediary, connecting students seeking tuition with the conspirators and arranging buyers for the leaked papers at approximately Rs 10 lakh per student. The illicit profits were shared among the core accused. The leak network extended to Nashik and Gurugram, leading to multiple arrests. The CBI stated that the probe is in its initial stages and aims to uncover a larger organized conspiracy, noting that several other active members remain unidentified. The agency emphasized the need for police custody to recover incriminating material and arrest additional accomplices involved in the exam cancellation incident.
The Indian ExpressNEET Paper Leak Mastermind Manisha Mandhare Taken Into CBI Custody Amid Public Outcry
Manisha Mandhare, a National Testing Agency (NTA) subject expert and alleged mastermind behind the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, was taken into 14-day Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody following a Delhi court order. Outside the court, reporters confronted Mandhare, highlighting that her actions negatively impacted 2.2 million students. She remained silent and avoided eye contact during the encounter. An exclusive remand note obtained by India Today reveals that Mandhare exploited her position to access final question sets, leaking them to selected students in exchange for substantial monetary benefits. The investigation uncovered an organized conspiracy involving other accused individuals, including Manisha Waghmare and Prahlad Vitthal Rao Kulkarni. This syndicate allegedly operated with a turnover worth crores of rupees, effectively selling seats in prestigious medical colleges. The CBI plans to interrogate Mandhare across various locations to dismantle the entire racket. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, exposing a severe breach of trust within the national education examination system and shattering the dreams of countless aspirants who prepared diligently for the exam.
India Today | Latest StoriesCBI Probe Reveals Insider Network Behind NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing a sophisticated network responsible for the alleged leak of the NEET-UG 2026 examination paper. The investigation highlights a multi-layered conspiracy involving exam insiders, intermediaries, and candidates across multiple Indian states. Key suspects include Manisha Mandhare, a botany professor with access to confidential question pools, and PV Kulkarni, a retired chemistry professor linked to the paper-setting process. Authorities allege that Mandhare conducted secret coaching sessions in Pune, dictating questions to students, while intermediary Manisha Waghmare facilitated the distribution. The leak expanded beyond Pune through accused Shubham Khairnar and Yash Yadav, who shared PDFs of the papers on Telegram days before the exam. The network reportedly reached Rajasthan, where parents paid substantial sums for leaked materials. Following these allegations, the original examination was cancelled, and a re-exam has been scheduled for June 21. The CBI continues to analyze forensic data and financial trails to determine the full extent of the conspiracy, which compromised the integrity of the national medical entrance test.
NDTV News Search Records Found 1000CBI Reveals NEET Paper Leak Conspiracy: Translator Arrested and Granted 14-Day Custody
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has achieved a significant breakthrough in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak scandal by securing a 14-day custody order for Manisha Mandhare, a member of the Paper-Setting Committee. During court proceedings, the CBI disclosed that Mandhare, an expert translator for Botany and Zoology sections, exploited her position to access and leak original question papers. The agency described a deep-seated conspiracy involving a triangle of accused individuals, including PV Kulkarni and Manisha Waghmare. Mandhare allegedly handed the stolen papers to an accomplice named Shubham, who facilitated their wider distribution. The CBI emphasized the extensive nature of the network, noting that simultaneous raids and investigations are currently underway across India. The agency argued that extended custody is necessary to transport Mandhare to various locations for evidence gathering. This revelation has severely impacted public trust in the examination system, as it exposes how insiders responsible for safeguarding the process became the primary perpetrators. The investigation aims to dismantle the entire racket and restore confidence among students and parents affected by the scam.
India Today | Latest StoriesDelhi Court Remands NEET-UG Leak Accused Kulkarni and Waghmare to 10-Day CBI Custody
A Delhi court has ordered a 10-day Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody for P V Kulkarni, identified as the alleged kingpin in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak scandal, and co-accused Manisha Waghmare. Special CBI Judge Ajay Gupta granted the remand after the probe agency argued that the suspects needed to be interrogated outside New Delhi to uncover a larger conspiracy. The CBI had initially sought a 14-day remand. Investigators allege that Kulkarni, a chemistry lecturer and subject expert involved in setting the exam paper for the National Testing Agency (NTA), exploited his access to leak questions. With Waghmare's assistance, he reportedly conducted special coaching classes in Pune during late April, where he dictated exact questions and answers to students. These handwritten notes allegedly matched the actual exam paper held on May 3, 2026. The case highlights significant breaches in the integrity of India's national medical entrance examinations, prompting federal intervention to investigate the extent of the racket and identify other potential accomplices involved in the distribution of leaked materials.
Economic TimesDelhi Court Grants CBI 10-Day Custody of Two Accused in NEET-UG Paper Leak Case
A Delhi court has ordered a ten-day custodial interrogation for two individuals, Manisha Waghmare and PV Kulkarni, in connection with the alleged leakage of the NEET-UG 2026 examination papers. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) secured this custody period from the Rouse Avenue Court to further investigate the suspects' involvement in a broader conspiracy aimed at obtaining and distributing the confidential question paper. Although the investigative agency initially requested fourteen days, the court settled on a ten-day term. Investigators allege that the accused are part of a larger network involved in the racket. Preliminary findings suggest that a senior teacher may have leaked Biology questions, while a retired professor, who was part of the question paper setting panel, is also implicated in the scheme. This development marks a significant step in the ongoing probe into the integrity of the national medical entrance exam, as authorities work to uncover the full extent of the syndicate responsible for the breach. The case has drawn significant attention due to the high stakes associated with the NEET examination for medical aspirants across India.
Times of IndiaCBI Alleges Retired Teacher P V Kulkarni Conspired to Distribute Leaked NEET 2026 Papers
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed a Delhi court that P V Kulkarni, a retired chemistry lecturer from Maharashtra, conspired to distribute leaked question papers for the NEET-UG 2026 examination. Kulkarni, arrested in Pune alongside co-accused Manisha Waghmare, allegedly used his access as an National Testing Agency (NTA) representative to obtain the papers. The CBI stated that Kulkarni organized special coaching sessions where he dictated leaked questions and answers to students. The investigation revealed a network where papers were transferred through intermediaries like Dhananjay Lokhande and Shubham Khairnar to other recipients. Approximately 120 out of 410 circulated questions appeared in the actual chemistry exam. Following the leak affecting over 2.27 million aspirants, the original May 3 exam was cancelled, with a retest scheduled for June 21. The CBI has sought 14 days of custody for the accused to further investigate the widespread conspiracy, which has led to eight arrests across multiple states including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Haryana. Defense counsel argued the arrests lacked substantive evidence, but the probe continues to trace the primary sources within the NTA.
The Indian ExpressCBI Arrests Pune Biology Teacher Alleged as Mastermind in NEET-UG Paper Leak
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a biology teacher from Pune, identifying him as the alleged mastermind behind the recent NEET-UG paper leak scandal. This significant development marks a breakthrough in the ongoing investigation into the widespread irregularities surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate courses. The arrest highlights the agency's efforts to dismantle the network responsible for compromising the integrity of one of India's most competitive medical entrance examinations. The teacher, whose identity has been central to the probe, is accused of orchestrating the leakage of question papers to candidates, thereby facilitating unfair advantages. This event has triggered widespread outrage among students and parents, leading to demands for a re-examination and stricter oversight of national testing bodies. The CBI's action underscores the severity of the breach and the government's commitment to addressing educational fraud. Further investigations are expected to reveal the extent of the syndicate involved and any potential complicity of officials within the examination conducting authorities.
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