NEET-UG row: CBI arrests key NTA expert

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested another key accused in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak scandal, dealing a fresh blow to the nexus behind the leak. The agency arrested Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, a teacher currently working at Seth Hiralal Saraf Prashala in Pune, Maharashtra.

She was appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) as an expert for the NEET-UG 2026 examination and had direct access to the Physics question paper. According to the CBI, Havaldar allegedly shared specific Physics questions with co-accused Manisha Mandhare in April 2026, who was arrested on May 16, 2026.

The questions leaked by her have matched those that appeared in the final NEET-UG 2026 Physics paper sets, the probe agency said. A senior CBI official said the arrest was made after detailed interrogation and verification of evidence. “The questions shared by the accused have tallied with the actual examination paper, confirming her role in the leak,” the official said.

In connection with the case, the CBI conducted multiple searches across several States and seized incriminating documents, laptops, bank statements, and mobile phones. Forensic analysis of the seized electronic devices and financial records is currently underway.

The CBI registered the case on May 12, 2026, following a formal complaint by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India. Since then, special teams have been working on the case, leading to multiple arrests and nationwide raids.

This latest arrest highlights the involvement of insiders within the examination ecosystem and has once again raised serious questions about the security protocols the NTA follows in handling question papers for one of India’s most critical entrance examinations. The investigation is continuing, and more arrests are expected.