The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has intensified its probe into the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, making two significant fresh arrests that bring the total number of individuals apprehended to nine. The latest detentions include a Pune-based botany teacher with direct ties to the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the founder of a prominent coaching institute in Latur.
NTA-Linked Teacher Accused of Insider Access
Among the newly arrested is Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a senior botany teacher from Pune. Mandhare served as an expert associated with the NTA, a role that allegedly granted her access to confidential Biology questions for the NEET-UG 2026 examination well before the May 3 exam date.
According to CBI investigators, during April 2026, Mandhare reportedly conducted special coaching sessions at her Shivajinagar residence. Students attending these sessions were allegedly instructed to record important Botany and Zoology questions in notebooks or mark them in textbooks. A significant number of these questions are believed to have subsequently appeared on the actual NEET-UG 2026 Biology paper.
The CBI suspects Mandhare identified and contacted select NEET aspirants through another accused already in custody, Manisha Waghmare. The agency's ongoing investigation suggests a multi-layered operation involving insiders, middlemen, and candidates who reportedly paid substantial sums for access to the probable exam questions.
Coaching Institute Founder Arrested in Latur
The second key arrest is Shivraj Motegaonkar, founder and director of RCC Coaching Institute in Latur. Motegaonkar was taken into custody after a seven-hour interrogation, accused of being an active member of a syndicate illegally circulating the NEET-UG paper.
An arrest and search memo reviewed by India Today indicates that Motegaonkar allegedly colluded with other accused individuals to obtain the question papers and answer keys as early as April 23, ten days before the examination. A search of his Latur residence on May 14 reportedly led to the recovery of the leaked question paper on his mobile phone, which has been seized for forensic analysis.
The CBI further alleges that Motegaonkar conspired with other gang members and NTA-linked officials to distribute copies of the leaked papers and answer sheets to multiple individuals. He is also accused of destroying these papers post-examination in an attempt to eliminate evidence. Motegaonkar has been booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita 2023, along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
Investigation Continues Amidst Re-examination
The CBI formally registered the case on May 12, 2026, following a complaint from the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education. This registration coincided with the NTA's decision to cancel the examination, with a re-examination now scheduled for June 21. With nine people arrested across various cities, the probe continues to expand as authorities work to uncover the full extent of the paper leak network.