As the investigation into the nationwide NEET paper leak case progresses, the CBI on Friday arrested an expert appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
The accused was identified as Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, a teacher who is allegedly involved in leaking of physics examination questions.
Who is Manisha Sanjay Havaldar?
Manisha Sanjay Havaldar is currently working as a teacher in Seth Hiralal Saraf Prashala in Pune. The NTA had appointed her as a subject expert in connection with the NEET UG 2026 exams.
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Havaldar had full access to the physics question papers and she allegedly shared a number of physics questions with Manisha Mandhare, a botany lecturer who was arrested in connection with the paper leak.
A CBI spokesperson said that the questions shared by Havaldar have been matched and tallied with the questions that appeared in the NEET-UG 2026 physics exam paper sets.
Mandhare, a biology subject expert from Modern College of Arts, Pune, was arrested on May 16. She had complete access to the botany and zoology question papers. She also allegedly mobilised prospective NEET exam candidates through another accused, Manisha Waghmare. Waghmare, a 46-year-old beautician from Pune, was arrested on May 14 after it was revealed that she connected NEET aspirants with teachers from reputed schools.
The May 3 exam was held across 551 Indian cities and at 14 overseas centres. Around 23 lakh students had registered for the exam. Four days after the exam, the NTA received information regarding the alleged malpractice on May 7 evening.
Besides Mandhare, retired chemistry lecturer P.V. Kulkarni was also identified as a mastermind in the case. Both off them knew each other through Waghmare. The two lecturers roped in Waghmare to bring in NEET aspirants for special sessions.
Following the leak, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has called on officials to conduct the re-examination on June 21 in a "secure, seamless and foolproof manner."
The medical entrance exam would be computer-based from next year onwards in order to avoid any malpractices, the Union education ministry stated.
