The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today arrested a mastermind connected with the leak of Biology questions in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. The accused named Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, is a senior Botany Teacher from Pune, Maharashtra. CBI said that she was involved in the NEET UG 2026 Examination process and was appointed as an expert by the National Testing Agency.

The investigation agency said that the accused had complete access to the Botany and Zoology question papers. It said that she had mobilised prospective NEET examination candidates through Manisha Wagmare of Pune who was arrested on the 14th of this month and conducted special coaching classes for these students at her Pune residence. So far nine accused have been arrested in this case from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nasik, Pune and Ahliyanagar.

Out of these, five accused have already been produced before the court and taken into seven-day police custody and remand for detailed interrogation. The other two accused who were arrested yesterday have been produced before the court in Pune and shifted to Delhi after taking transit remand. In the last 24 hours, CBI has also conducted searches at six locations across the country and seized several incriminating documents, Laptops, bank statements and mobile phones.