The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) produced the accused Manisha Mandhare before the Rouse Avenue Court today in connection with the ongoing investigation into the NEET paper leak case. After hearing the arguments presented by the central agency, the court granted the CBI 14 days of custody for the accused professor. Manisha Mandhare, who is a resident of Pune, Maharashtra, was recently apprehended by the CBI from a hotel located in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. Following her arrest, she was brought to Delhi for intensive questioning before being presented in front of the Special CBI Judge.
Direct Access to Question Papers
According to the details provided by the central investigators, Manisha Mandhare is a Professor of Botany. The investigation has revealed that she was appointed as an expert by the National Testing Agency (NTA). This specific role granted her direct and privileged access to the question papers for both Botany and Zoology subjects in the NEET examination. The CBI informed the court that this position of trust was allegedly exploited to facilitate the leak of sensitive examination material.
Allegations of Bribery and Corruption
During the court proceedings, the CBI stated that the entire operational process of the NTA is currently under strict scrutiny, while initial findings from the investigation suggest that Mandhare allegedly accepted significant amounts of bribes from students in exchange for leaking the examination questions. The agency believes that this wasn't an isolated incident but part of a larger organized operation. This network is suspected to involve several insiders, various middlemen, and candidates who were willing to pay large sums of money to obtain potential questions appearing in the exam.
Case Background and Re-examination
The CBI officially registered this case on May 12, 2026, following a formal complaint received from the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education. The gravity of the paper leak has led to significant administrative actions, including the scheduling of a re-examination. As per the current updates, the NEET examination is set to be conducted again on June 21. The agency is working to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy and identify all individuals who benefited from the leak.
Involvement of Other Academic Experts
The investigation has also brought other academic figures under the scanner. V. Kulkarni, a Professor of Chemistry. Kulkarni has a long history of involvement with the NEET examination process, having served for several years on the committees responsible for preparing the NEET question papers. The CBI is examining the roles of all such experts who had access to the confidential examination database to determine the depth of the security breach and the involvement of academic professionals in the paper leak syndicate.