NEW DELHI: Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Sunday granted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) 14 days’ custody of accused Manisha Gurunath Mandhare in connection with the NEET-UG exam paper leak case for further interrogation.
The CBI produced Manisha Mandhare before the Rouse Avenue Court.
The accused, Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a senior Botany teacher from Pune, Maharashtra, was arrested in Delhi after questioning by the agency.
The CBI told the court that the entire National Testing Agency (NTA) examination process is under investigation. The agency also alleged that Mandhare had received money from students, which needs to be investigated further.
The defence counsel opposed the remand application, stating that nothing had been recovered from the accused’s house. The counsel also said that she had joined the investigation twice and had remained in custody for three days. She was reportedly arrested at a hotel in Mathura.
According to the CBI, Mandhare 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, news agency ANI reported.
Investigators alleged that during April 2026, she mobilised prospective NEET candidates through Manisha Wagmare of Pune, who had already been arrested on May 14.
The CBI said Mandhare conducted special coaching classes for students at her Pune residence, during which she allegedly disclosed several Botany and Zoology questions and asked students to note them down in notebooks and textbooks.The agency said a majority of those questions matched the actual NEET-UG 2026 question paper conducted on May 3 (now cancelled).
The arrest comes a day after the CBI said it had arrested retired chemistry professor PV Kulkarni in Latur in connection with the paper leak case.
Kulkarni, who spent over three decades in academia, was associated with the NTA as part of the panel involved in setting the question paper.
The investigators have been examining the role of individuals involved in preparing the questions.In the last 24 hours, the CBI said it had conducted searches at six locations across the country and seized several incriminating documents, laptops, bank statements and mobile phones.
The agency said detailed analysis of the seized material is under way.So far, nine accused have been arrested in the case from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahilyanagar. Five accused have already been sent to seven days’ police custody for interrogation, while two others arrested in Pune were produced before a local court and later shifted to Delhi on transit remand.
The NEET-UG 2026 re-examination is scheduled to take place on June 21.
(with inputs from agency)The TOI City Desk is an indefatigable team of journalists dedicat...
Read MoreThe TOI City Desk is an indefatigable team of journalists dedicated to bringing you the pulse of cities from across the nation, all day and all night. Our mission is to curate, report, and deliver city news that matters to readers of The Times of India. With a keen focus on urban life, governance, culture, and local issues, we provide a comprehensive view of the ever-evolving cityscapes. Our team works tirelessly to keep readers informed about the latest developments, ensuring that they are connected to the heartbeat of cities across India, right when it happens. The TOI City Desk is a trusted source for staying in touch with the local stories that shape your world.
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