The accused, Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, works at a school in Pune, Maharashtra, and had reportedly been appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) as a subject expert during the examination process. Investigators claim she had access to Physics-related examination content.

According to the CBI, during April 2026, Havaldar allegedly shared multiple Physics questions with another accused, Manisha Mandhare, who had already been arrested earlier. Officials suspect that several of those questions later appeared in different versions of the NEET-UG 2026 exam papers.

Searches and Digital Evidence Under Review

As part of the investigation, CBI teams carried out raids at multiple locations across different cities. During these operations, officials reportedly recovered electronic devices, financial records, and various documents. The seized material is now undergoing forensic and technical examination.

The case was officially registered on May 12 after the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education submitted a complaint regarding the suspected paper leak. Since then, dedicated investigation teams have been carrying out nationwide operations.

Total Arrests Reach 11

So far, authorities have arrested 11 individuals from several cities, including Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Pune, Nashik, Latur, and Ahilyanagar.

Investigators now claim they have traced what they describe as a major source of the alleged leak. The probe has also uncovered the role of middlemen who allegedly approached students and offered access to so-called “special coaching sessions” in exchange for large sums of money. These sessions allegedly involved questions believed to be linked to the upcoming exam.

The CBI has stated that the investigation is still ongoing and assured that a detailed and impartial inquiry will continue.