NEET UG 2026 Leak Probe Deepens As CBI Arrests Alleged NTA Expert

The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested another key accused in the alleged NEET UG 2026 paper leak case, claiming the suspect played a crucial role in leaking questions from the Physics section of the highly competitive medical entrance examination. The accused, identified as Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, was working at Seth Hiralal Saraf Prashala in Pune and had been appointed by the National Testing Agency as an expert with access to examination material.

According to investigators, Havaldar allegedly shared several Physics questions from the NEET UG 2026 examination with co-accused Manisha Mandhare during April, weeks before the examination was conducted. Mandhare, a botany teacher from Pune, had earlier been arrested by the CBI on May 16 as part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged leak network.

The agency stated that the questions allegedly circulated by Havaldar matched those that eventually appeared in multiple sets of the NEET UG 2026 Physics paper. Officials said this connection established her as a major source in the alleged paper leak operation. The arrest reportedly followed detailed interrogation and examination of digital and documentary evidence collected during the probe.

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In a statement, a CBI spokesperson said the agency had identified Havaldar as a “key accused” who possessed complete access to the Physics question paper due to her role as an NTA-appointed expert. Investigators believe that confidential examination content may have been shared in advance with intermediaries and aspirants, raising concerns over the integrity of one of India’s most important entrance examinations.

The NEET UG examination is conducted annually for admission to undergraduate medical programmes across India and is taken by millions of students each year. Allegations of paper leaks and irregularities have repeatedly triggered widespread outrage among students, parents and educational institutions, prompting demands for stricter examination security mechanisms and greater accountability.

The CBI has continued expanding its investigation into the alleged NEET UG 2026 leak network, with multiple arrests and interrogations already carried out in recent weeks. Officials have indicated that further action could follow as investigators examine possible links between insiders, coaching intermediaries and candidates who may have benefited from leaked examination content.

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