A Delhi court has sent Pune-based teacher Manisha Gurunath Mandhare to 14 days of CBI custody in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case.
Mandhare, a senior Botany teacher from Maharashtra, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after being identified as one of the key accused in the alleged leak of Biology questions for the national medical entrance examination, according to Zee News.
Investigators claimed she was associated with the NEET-UG 2026 examination process and had been appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) as an expert, giving her access to Botany and Zoology question papers.
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According to the CBI, Mandhare allegedly mobilsed prospective NEET candidates through another accused, P V Kulkarni, who had already been arrested earlier and was the kingpin behind Mandhare. The CBI told the court that Manisha Mandhare specialised in translating botany and zoology question papers linked to the examination process.
“Manisha was in conspiracy with P.V. Kulkarni and Manisha Waghmare. She gave the question paper to another accused, Shubham. Simultaneous investigations are going on across the country. We need to take her to different parts of the country for the purpose of investigation,” the CBI said, quoting Zee News.
The defense claimed Manisha Gurunath Mandhare’s arrest was “illegal,” alleging she was detained after sundown and brought to Delhi at 1 a.m. The court directed the defense to file a proper application and permitted Mandhare to meet her lawyer for 15 minutes daily.
The statement said that in April 2026, she allegedly recruited NEET candidates through consultant Manisha Wagmare and conducted exclusive coaching sessions for them at her Pune residence.
During the sessions, Mandhare allegedly shared and explained several Biology questions, asking students to note them down and mark them in textbooks. Investigators said most of those questions matched the NEET-UG 2026 paper held on May 3, which was later canceled.
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The Rouse Avenue Court granted the CBI extended custody to further investigate the NEET-UG paper leak network. Officials said raids were conducted across several cities, leading to the seizure of electronic devices, bank records, and documents, while nine accused have been arrested so far, as per media reports.
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