In a major breakthrough in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak investigation, the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi on Sunday granted 14 days’ custody of accused Manisha Gurunath Mandhare to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), as investigators intensified their nationwide probe into the alleged leak of the Biology question paper.
Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, an NTA-appointed senior Botany teacher from Pune, is suspected to be one of the key conspirators behind the leak. Authorities stated that she played a crucial role in accessing and circulating confidential examination material ahead of the national medical entrance test that was later cancelled amid allegations of widespread malpractice.
The CBI informed the court that the investigation has now expanded across multiple states, with teams tracking the network involved in leaking question papers, arranging coaching sessions, and collecting huge sums of money from aspirants seeking access to leaked content.
#WATCH | Delhi | NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case | Rouse Avenue Court granted 14 days’ custody of accused Manisha Gurunath Mandhare to the CBI
Visuals of Manisha Gurunath Mandhare being taken away from the court https://t.co/4BUFKRtzeJ pic.twitter.com/FQ2KMLpdIU
— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2026
CBI claims accused had direct access to Biology paper
During the hearing, the CBI told the court that Manisha Gurunath Mandhare was an expert involved in translating Botany and Zoology question papers and had complete access to the Biology section of the NEET-UG 2026 examination.
The agency alleged that she conspired with Chemistry professor P.V. Kulkarini, who is being treated as the alleged “kingpin” of the operation, along with another accused, Manisha Waghmare.
According to the CBI, Mandhare allegedly passed the leaked paper to another accused identified as Shubham as part of the larger conspiracy.
The agency further submitted before the court that simultaneous investigations were underway in different parts of the country and custodial interrogation was necessary to trace the wider network and recover additional evidence.
“We need to take her to different parts of the country for the purpose of investigation,” the CBI told the bench while seeking extended custody.
Coaching sessions at Pune residence under scanner
In a statement released on Saturday, the CBI said Manisha Gurunath Mandhare was directly associated with the NEET-UG 2026 examination process through her appointment by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
Investigators alleged that in April 2026, she mobilised prospective NEET candidates through Pune-based consultant Manisha Waghmare, who was arrested earlier on May 14.
The agency claimed that special coaching classes were conducted at Mandhare’s Pune residence, where students were allegedly taught questions expected to appear in the examination.
According to the CBI, she allegedly dictated several Biology questions during these sessions and instructed students to write them down in notebooks and identify the same in textbooks for preparation.
Probe officials stated that a majority of these questions later matched the actual Biology paper used in the NEET-UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3.
Defence questions legality of arrest
During the proceedings, the defence challenged the legality of Mandhare’s arrest and accused the agency of violating procedure.
The defence counsel argued before the court that she was arrested after sundown and brought to Delhi during the night.
“She was arrested after sundown and then was brought to Delhi at 1 a.m.,” the defence submitted.
The court directed the defence to move an appropriate application regarding the allegation. It also allowed Manisha Gurunath Mandhare to meet her lawyer daily for 15 minutes during custody.
Nationwide searches intensify as probe widens
The CBI said searches were conducted at six locations across the country within the last 24 hours as part of the widening investigation.
Officials seized several incriminating documents, laptops, mobile phones, and bank statements suspected to be linked to the paper leak operation. Detailed forensic and financial analysis of the seized material is currently underway.
The case was registered by the CBI on May 12 following a written complaint from the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education regarding the alleged leak of the NEET-UG 2026 examination paper.
Soon after registering the FIR, special investigation teams were formed, and raids were carried out in multiple cities across the country.
Nine arrested so far in expanding NEET leak network
So far, nine accused have been arrested from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nasik, Pune, and Ahliyanagar in connection with the case.
Five of the accused were earlier produced before the court and remanded to seven days of police custody for detailed interrogation.
Two more accused arrested on Friday were first produced before a Pune court before being shifted to Delhi after transit remand.
According to the CBI, the investigation has so far uncovered the alleged source of the leaked Chemistry and Biology papers as well as the network of middlemen who recruited students willing to pay lakhs of rupees for access to the leaked material.