The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested another major accused in connection with the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, claiming that she played a critical role in leaking Physics questions that later appeared in the actual medical entrance examination.
The accused has been identified as Manisha Sanjay Havaldar. According to investigators, she was taken into custody after extensive questioning by the CBI regarding her alleged involvement in the leak of NEET-UG examination material.
Havaldar is currently employed at Seth Hiralal Saraf Prashala in Pune, Maharashtra. The agency alleged that she had been appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) as an expert associated with the NEET-UG 2026 examination process and, therefore, she had authorised access to the Physics question papers.
According to the CBI, Havaldar allegedly shared several Physics-related questions connected to the NEET examination during April 2026 with another accused, Manisha Mandhare, who had already been arrested earlier on May 16.
Investigators claimed that the questions allegedly shared by Havaldar later matched questions that eventually appeared in the Physics sections of multiple NEET-UG 2026 examination paper sets, strengthening suspicions regarding an organised paper leak operation.
As part of the ongoing investigation, the CBI has carried out extensive search operations at multiple locations across the country. During the raids, officials reportedly seized several incriminating materials, including laptops, mobile phones, bank records, and important documents that are now being examined as part of the investigation.
Officials stated that forensic analysis and technical examination of the seized digital devices and materials are currently underway in an effort to trace communication networks, financial transactions,s and the alleged flow of leaked examination content.
The CBI formally registered the case on May 12 after receiving a written complaint from the Department of Higher Education functioning under the Ministry of Education regarding allegations of a NEET-UG 2026 question paper leak.
Soon after the FIR was filed, the agency constituted special investigation teams and launched coordinated raids at various locations nationwide. Multiple suspects were detained and questioned during the early phase of the probe.
According to the latest information released by investigators, a total of 11 accused individuals have now been arrested in connection with the case from several cities including Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Pune, Nashik, Latur and Ahilyanagar.
The CBI stated that the investigation has now reportedly uncovered what officials described as the “actual source” of the NEET-UG question paper leak. The agency also claimed to have identified and arrested intermediaries who allegedly recruited students willing to pay large sums of money in exchange for access to so-called “special coaching sessions.”
According to investigators, during these sessions, NS students were allegedly shown or trained using questions that later appeared in the actual NEET-UG 2026 examination.
Officials believe the alleged network involved a coordinated chain of individuals, including insiders with access to examination material, intermediaries arranging contacts and financial transactions, and coaching-linked operators allegedly promising advance access to questions.
The CBI stated that the investigation remains active and ongoing and reiterated its commitment to carrying out what it described as a “comprehensive, impartial and professional” probe into the alleged examination paper leak scandal.
