CBI Arrests Pune Teacher in NEET-UG 2026 Biology Paper Leak Case

May 16, 2026 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday arrested Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a senior Botany teacher from Pune, Maharashtra, in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case involving the alleged leak of Biology examination questions.

According to the CBI, Mandhare was associated with the NEET-UG 2026 examination process and had been appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) as an expert. Investigators alleged that she had complete access to the Botany and Zoology question papers.

The agency claimed that Mandhare, along with co-accused Manisha Wagmare of Pune, mobilised prospective NEET candidates and conducted special coaching sessions for selected students at her residence in Pune. Wagmare was arrested earlier on May 14.

With the latest arrest, the total number of accused held in the case has risen to nine. The arrests have been made from multiple cities including Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahilyanagar.

The CBI said that five accused had already been produced before the court and remanded to seven-day police custody for detailed interrogation. Two other accused arrested on Friday were produced before a Pune court and later shifted to Delhi after obtaining transit remand.

The investigation agency further stated that searches were conducted at six locations across the country during the last 24 hours. During the raids, officials seized several incriminating documents, laptops, bank statements and mobile phones as part of the ongoing probe.