NEET Paper Leak Accused Manisha Waghmare Had Access to Questions Before April 27: CBI

Accused Manisha Waghmare, one of the prime suspect in the NEET paper leak, had accessed the UG NEET 2026 question paper prior to April 27, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe has revealed. A Delhi court noted details of the CBI's investigation into the UG NEET paper leak case as Waghmare along with one more accused were sent to 10-day custody."As per the case file, Manisha Waghmare, in conspiracy with other accused and public servants associated with NTA, had received the question paper and answers on April 27. She allegedly provided them to several persons, including accused Dhananjay, for monetary consideration. She is also accused of destroying the question paper after NEET 2026 was conducted," the court noted in its remand order.

Times Now has accessed the court order.

When Did NEET UG Exam Take Place

On May 3, 23 lakh students in India attempted the NEET UG exam, however, the NTA cancelled it after it was found that the question paper was leaked. The NTA later announced a new date -- June 21 -- to conduct re-exam. Students and political parties have been protesting across the country.The court also examined the investigating officer's case diary and noted that accused PV Kulkarni (arrested earlier), in conspiracy with other co-accused, including Manisha Waghmare (arrested earlier), provided confidential material, including question content, to selected students.In return, the accused allegedly received substantial amounts of cash, part of which was deposited in his bank account.

Manisha Waghmare Emerging As Key Link Between Other Accused

Pune-based Manisha Waghmare is now emerging as the common link between both accused. The CBI has described the duo as the "kingpin" and "mastermind" respectively."During the last week of April, Kulkarni had mobilised students with the help of another accused, Manisha Waghmare, and conducted special coaching classes for these students at his residence. He dictated the questions along with options and correct answers during these special coaching classes. The questions dictated were handwritten by students in their notebooks and exactly matched the question paper of NEET UG 2026," the CBI said in a statement.

Another Accused Manisha Mandhare Also Asked Manisha Waghmare To Arrange Students

Like Kulkarni, Manisha Mandhare had also allegedly asked Manisha Waghmare to arrange students. "Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a senior Botany teacher from Pune, Maharashtra, has been arrested in Delhi after thorough interrogation by the CBI. She was involved in the NEET UG 2026 examination process and was appointed by NTA as an expert. She had complete access to the Botany and Zoology question papers," CBI said."During April 2026, she mobilised prospective NEET candidates through Manisha Waghmare of Pune and conducted special coaching classes for these students at her Pune residence," the CBI said."Investigation is continuing with special teams, and the probe conducted so far has revealed the actual source of the leakage of Chemistry and Biology papers, as well as the middlemen involved in mobilising students who paid lakhs of rupees to attend special coaching classes where questions likely to appear in the NEET UG 2026 examination were dictated and discussed," the CBI added.