The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Pune-based physics teacher in connection with the alleged leak of the NEET-UG 2026 examination paper, marking a major development in the ongoing probe into irregularities surrounding India’s largest medical entrance test. The arrest has taken the total number of accused held in the case to 11.
According to investigators, the accused was associated with the National Testing Agency (NTA) as a subject expert and allegedly had complete access to the physics question papers before the examination. The CBI claimed that the questions shared by the teacher matched those that later appeared in the actual NEET-UG examination.
The arrested teacher, identified as Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, reportedly worked as a lecturer and school headmistress in Pune. Officials suspect that she played a key role in leaking the physics section of the paper to candidates and middlemen involved in the racket. The agency is now examining digital devices, communication records, and financial transactions linked to the accused.
The CBI has been expanding its investigation across multiple states after allegations emerged that sections of the NEET-UG 2026 paper had been circulated before the examination. Earlier arrests included other NTA-appointed experts and individuals allegedly connected to coaching networks and candidate facilitators.
Officials said the latest arrest could help uncover the larger network behind the leak. The agency is also questioning several medical professionals and education consultants suspected of having links to the operation.
The NEET-UG examination, conducted annually for admission to undergraduate medical courses across India, has repeatedly faced scrutiny over allegations of malpractice and paper leaks in recent years. The latest controversy has once again raised concerns about the security and credibility of national-level competitive examinations.