NEET 2026 Leak: NTA Expert Arrested, What It Means

The investigation into the NEET UG 2026 paper leak has widened. After the arrest of chemistry expert Prof. P.V. Kulkarni, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has now arrested Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, an NTA-appointed biology expert, for allegedly leaking the Biology paper.

This confirms that both Chemistry and Biology papers were leaked from inside the exam system.

Who is Manisha Mandhare?

Mandhare is a senior botany teacher from Pune. She was appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) as a subject expert for Biology and had official access to the Botany and Zoology question papers before the exam.

Key Details

How the Biology Paper Was Leaked

CBI says the leak happened through private coaching sessions held in April.

Sequence of Events

• Students were identified through middleman Manisha Waghmare
• Selected candidates paid several lakh rupees
• Sessions were held at Mandhare’s home in Pune
• She dictated Biology questions and answers orally
• Students wrote them down manually
• Many of those questions later appeared in the actual exam on May 3

CBI’s forensic checks reportedly matched the leaked questions with the final exam paper.

Common Link: One Recruiter, Two Insiders

A major finding is that the same recruiter connected both arrested experts.

Manisha Waghmare acted as the common middle person between:

• P. V. Kulkarni (Chemistry)
• Manisha Gurunath Mandhare (Biology)

This suggests a larger organized network rather than separate incidents.

Two Leaks Compared

All Arrests So Far

A total of 9 accused have been arrested.

Searches have been carried out in multiple states, including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Why This Matters

1. NTA security under question

Two official subject experts from the same city were arrested within 24 hours. This raises serious concerns over NTA’s paper-setting process and monitoring.

2. Physics paper under scrutiny

NEET has three subjects:

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology

Chemistry and Biology leaks are now linked to insiders. The status of the Physics paper remains unclear.

3. Investigation may expand

CBI is examining digital devices and has already visited NTA offices. More officials may be questioned.

What Students Should Know

The re-exam remains scheduled.

Important Updates

Official portal:

neet.nta.nic.in

Only trust official notices. Avoid social media rumours.

Quick Summary

The case now clearly shows that the leak involved multiple insiders with direct NTA access, not just external brokers.

For students, the exam will be held again and preparation should continue. The investigation is still ongoing, and more developments are expected in the coming days.