CBI Secures Custody in NEET Leak

Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Sunday granted the Central Bureau of Investigation 14 days’ custody of Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a Pune-based botany teacher accused in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. The order came a day after the CBI arrested Mandhare and produced her before the court as part of its widening investigation into the alleged leak of Biology questions. Investigators have said Mandhare was appointed by the National Testing Agency as an expert in the exam process and had access to Botany and Zoology question papers. The case is the latest turn in a probe that has already led to multiple arrests and the cancellation of this year’s NEET-UG exam. ### Why did the CBI ask for 14 days of custody? News18 reported that the CBI told the court on May 16 that investigators may need to take accused persons outside Delhi as the probe expands across multiple states. The agency said custodial interrogation was needed to trace contacts, recover evidence and map how confidential exam material moved through the alleged network. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) The court granted that request on May 17 in Mandhare’s case, according to reports from The Hindu and the Times of India. Those reports said the remand was for further interrogation in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak investigation. ### Who is Manisha Gurunath Mandhare in the case? (news18.com) The CBI said Mandhare was involved in the NEET-UG 2026 examination process after being appointed by the National Testing Agency as an expert. Hindustan Times reported, citing the agency, that she had “complete access” to the Botany and Zoology question papers. (thehindu.com) Indian Express reported that CBI investigators described Mandhare in court as an expert on the NTA’s question-setting panel and alleged that she leaked final question papers to selected candidates for “substantial monetary gains.” That allegation is part of the agency’s case and has not been tested at trial. (hindustantimes.com) ### What does the CBI say she did with the questions? The CBI alleged that Mandhare came into contact with NEET candidates through co-accused Manisha Waghmare and conducted coaching sessions for students at her residence in Pune. News18 and Hindustan Times reported that investigators said she disclosed Botany and Zoology questions during those classes. (indianexpress.com) Hindustan Times reported that the agency told investigators the questions disclosed in those sessions largely matched the actual NEET-UG 2026 paper held on May 3. The report also said the CBI believes Mandhare had access to the paper from at least April 27, nearly a week before the examination. (news18.com) ### How broad is the investigation now? The CBI has linked Mandhare’s case to a wider alleged network centered in Maharashtra. News18 reported that the agency told the court accused Dhananjay Nivrutti Lokhande was in contact with Manisha Waghmare, and that confidential material was allegedly passed onward to Shubham Khairnar. (hindustantimes.com) Hindustan Times reported that retired chemistry lecturer P.V. Kulkarni was arrested earlier and that investigators are examining whether two separate sets of leaked material emerged from the National Testing Agency’s paper-setting process. According to that report, investigators are also scrutinizing the full paper-setting committee and senior NTA officials. (news18.com) ### Why is the NTA central to the allegations? The National Testing Agency is central because the CBI says Mandhare was not an outsider who obtained questions after the fact, but an NTA-appointed expert who had direct access during the exam-setting process. That allegation, if borne out by the investigation, places the suspected breach inside the system used to prepare the medical entrance test. (hindustantimes.com) The NEET-UG 2026 examination was later cancelled after allegations that the paper had been leaked and circulated across multiple states, News18 reported. Hindustan Times said more than 2.2 million candidates are expected to retake the exam. ### What happens next in court and in the probe? (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) The 14-day remand gives the CBI time to question Mandhare in custody and pursue leads beyond Delhi, according to the agency’s submissions reported by News18. Investigators are expected to continue examining links among the accused, the alleged recruiters and people associated with the NEET-UG paper-setting process. (news18.com) May 17 is the latest confirmed court step in Mandhare’s case. The next milestone is the end of the 14-day custody period, when the CBI is expected to return to court with an update on its investigation and any further request tied to the NEET-UG 2026 leak case. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) (news18.com)