NEET-UG 2026 case: CBI arrests another key accused for leaking physics questions

Members of the Social Students Association of India (SSAI) protest against the National Testing Agency (NTA) over the alleged leak of NEET-UG 2026. File photo for representational purposes only. | Photo credit: ANI

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Pune-based person in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 case for allegedly leaking some physics questions.

The accused has been identified as Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, currently working at Seth Hiralal Saraf Prashala (Pune).

According to the CBI, she was involved in the NEET-UG 2026 process and appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) as an expert.

The agency claimed it had full access to the physics question papers. In April 2026, she shared some questions with co-accused Manisha Gurunath Mandhar, who was arrested on 16 May for allegedly leaking biology questions. The questions shared by Ms. Havaldar matched the physics questions in the exam paper.

The CBI registered the case on May 12 based on a complaint by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and has arrested 11 people so far.

Among them is Shivraj Motegaonkar, professor and owner of RCC Coaching Institute in Latur. The Institute has nine branches. He knows chemistry lecturer PV Kulkarni, who is associated with NTA and was arrested by CBI on charges of leaking chemistry questions.

Searches at the institute’s premises and Mr. Motegaonkar’s residence led to the seizure of a chemistry question bank containing questions identical to those that appeared in the test held on May 3, the agency said.

Manisha Waghmare, a beauty parlor owner, was arrested on May 14 for allegedly facilitating the distribution of leaked chemistry and biology question papers. The others arrested are Dhananjay Lokhande of Ahilyanagar and Shubham Khairnar of Nashik in Maharashtra; Mangilal Biwal, Vikas Biwal and Dinesh Biwal from Jaipur, Rajasthan; and Yash Yadav from Gurugram, Haryana.

Published – 22 May 2026 19:06 IST