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The investigation into the alleged NEET 2026 paper leak has taken a dramatic turn after one of the accused, Dhananjay Lokhande, reportedly told investigators
that a Pune-based beautician, Manisha Waghmare, detained in the case, is aware of several “key details” linked to the alleged exam leak network. This comes as a court in Ahmednagar granted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) a two-day transit remand of Lokhande, who is now likely to be taken to Rajasthan for further questioning. The action against them comes a day after one Shubham Khairnar (30) was detained in Nashik district for his alleged role in the paper leak. Also Read | Father Bought Paper for Rs.30 Lakh, Son Was Appearing for NEET: The Family At the Heart of Paper Leak
Pune Beautician Handed Over To CBI
Police detained Manisha Waghmare, a beautician by profession, from Pune’s Bibvewadi area on Wednesday. After questioning her, local police handed her over to the CBI for further investigation.Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar confirmed the development and said, "We questioned her and handed her over to the CBI for further probe."
However, officials have not yet disclosed her exact role in the alleged leak that forced authorities to cancel the NEET (UG) 2026 examination conducted on May 3.
Also Read | 42 Hours, 120 Questions, One Courier: The NEET 2026 Leak Chain CBI Is Now Unravelling
Police detained 26-year-old Dhananjay Nivrutti Lokhande from Rahuri in Ahilyanagar district. Officials said his exact involvement is still being verified.
The latest detentions come a day after the CBI took another accused, Shubham Khairnar from Nashik district, into custody. Khairnar is accused of purchasing the leaked question paper for around Rs 10 lakh and selling it for nearly Rs 15 lakh per copy through a courier chain allegedly stretching from Nashik to Rajasthan. The investigation reached Maharashtra after the Rajasthan Police shared details about the alleged movement of the paper. After the arrest, he was produced before a Mumbai court, which granted the agency transit remand to take him to Delhi for further investigation.
The NEET (UG) 2026 examination was cancelled amid allegations of a large-scale paper leak, triggering panic among more than 22 lakh aspirants and their families. The government has directed the CBI to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged irregularities.
