The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday arrested a biology lecturer who was part of the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) paper-setting committee for the 2026 NEET-UG entrance examination held on May 3, officials said.
The latest accused to be arrested has been identified as Manisha Mandhare, a Botany professor. She has been described by the CBI as “another mastermind who was the source for leak of NEET-UG 2026 Examination Biology questions.”
She was arrested on the basis of questioning of alleged kingpin PV Kulkarni, a retired Chemistry professor, and others arrested in the paper leak case, officials said.
Mandhare works at the Modern College of Arts Science and Commerce in Pune. According to sources from the educational institution, she has contributed to question paper-setting for NEET on behalf of the NTA for the past five to six years.
Mandhare had helped set the Botany and Zoology Questions for the 2026 NEET question paper. She was allegedly appointed by the NTA as an expert, officials said.
They said that Mandhare had complete access to the Botony and Zoology question papers. She allegedly leaked the questions to select NEET aspirants in April 2026 during secret coaching classes conducted in Pune.
It has been claimed by the central agency that Mandhare dictated the leaked questions and responses to them and took lakhs of rupees as fee.
Most of these questions tallied with the questions that appeared in the examination on May 3. The NEET exam was cancelled following allegations of a paper leak.
– Ends
(With inputs from agencies)
Published By:
Sahil Sinha
Published On:
May 16, 2026 15:34 IST
