CBI Nabs Biology Mastermind in NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak; Arrest Tally Reaches Nine
A senior Botany teacher from Pune, appointed by the NTA as an exam expert, has been arrested in Delhi — the latest in a rapidly widening CBI crackdown that has exposed a chilling insider conspiracy to sell India’s most competitive medical entrance exam to the highest bidder
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday arrested Ms. Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a senior Botany teacher from Pune, Maharashtra, identifying her as the mastermind behind the leak of Biology questions in the NEET-UG 2026 examination. She was detained in Delhi following sustained interrogation and becomes the ninth person arrested since the CBI registered the case just four days ago on 12 May 2026.
What makes the arrest particularly alarming is Mandhare’s official role: she was appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) as an exam expert, giving her complete access to the Botany and Zoology question papers. According to the CBI, during April 2026, she worked alongside Manisha Waghmare of Pune — herself arrested on 14 May — to recruit prospective NEET candidates and conduct secret coaching sessions at her Pune residence. At these sessions, she allegedly dictated and explained questions from the Botany and Zoology papers, instructing students to write them in notebooks and mark them in their textbooks. The questions so dictated were handwritten by students in their notebooks and have exactly tallied with the actual question paper of the NEET-UG 2026 Examination held on 3 May 2026.
In the past 24 hours, the CBI conducted searches at six locations across the country, seizing laptops, mobile phones, bank statements and incriminating documents — all currently under detailed forensic analysis.
A Scandal Rooted in Insider Access
Mandhare’s arrest mirrors that of the alleged Chemistry paper kingpin, Professor PV Kulkarni, a chemistry lecturer who served on the NEET-UG 2026 question paper-setting committee while teaching at Dayanand Medical College in Latur. Like Mandhare, Kulkarni allegedly used his privileged insider access to run clandestine coaching classes where he dictated exam questions to students who paid lakhs of rupees for the privilege.
The investigation so far has brought out the actual source of the Chemistry paper leak as well as the role of middlemen involved in mobilising students who allegedly paid several lakhs of rupees to attend these special coaching classes. Both Biology and Chemistry papers are now confirmed to have been compromised, pointing to a systemic breakdown within the NTA’s examination security framework.
The Fallout: Exam Cancelled, Re-Test Ordered
The National Testing Agency cancelled the 2026 NEET-UG on Tuesday following the escalating leak allegations. More than 22 lakh candidates had appeared for the exam on 3 May. The NTA has announced that the re-examination will be held on 21 June 2026.
At a press conference, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan acknowledged there was a “breach” in the command chain for the May 3 test, adding: “We accept it and take responsibility to improve it.” He also announced that NEET-UG will be made computer-based from next year.
Background: A Recurring Nightmare
This is not India’s first NEET crisis. The 2024 NEET-UG paper leak triggered a national uproar, led to the cancellation of multiple exams including UGC-NET, sparked Supreme Court hearings and protests across the country, and resulted in sweeping reforms to the NTA. The 2026 scandal — striking just two years later and again involving NTA-appointed insiders — has reignited questions about whether structural reform of the examination body went far enough.
The CBI says its special teams are continuing the investigation. Nine accused have now been arrested from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahmednagar. Five are in seven-day police custody remand; the remaining are being produced before Delhi courts after transit remands from Pune.
