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

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 in 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 alleged that she had complete access to the Physics question papers. In April 2026, she had shared some of the questions with co-accused Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, who was arrested on May 16 for allegedly leaking Biology questions. The questions Ms. Havaldar shared have tallied with the Physics questions in the examination paper, it said.

The CBI registered the case on May 12, following a complaint from the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, and has so far arrested 11 persons.

Among them is Shivraj Motegaonkar, a professor and owner of RCC Coaching Institute in Latur. The institute has nine branches. He is acquainted with Chemistry lecturer P.V. Kulkarni, who is associated with the NTA and has been arrested by the CBI on the charge of leaking Chemistry questions.

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

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