NEET Leak – Pune Principal Arrested Over Alleged Exam Paper Sharing
NEET Leak – The Central Bureau of Investigation has intensified its probe into the alleged NEET-UG paper leak case after arresting a school principal from Pune accused of circulating exam-related material to selected students in return for money.
Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, principal of Seth Hiralal Saraf Prashala in Pune, was taken into custody on Friday. Investigators identified her as one of the suspected sources linked to the leak of the medical entrance examination paper.
According to the agency, Havaldar had earlier worked as an empanelled Physics translator for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2026 conducted under the supervision of the National Testing Agency (NTA).
Allegations of Sharing Exam Content
During court proceedings seeking her custody, the CBI informed the Pune court that Havaldar allegedly passed confidential exam-related material to a limited group of students along with the help of another accused, botany lecturer Manisha Mandhare.
Mandhare, who teaches at Modern College of Arts and Science in Pune, had already been arrested earlier in connection with the same investigation.
Officials familiar with the probe stated that investigators suspect Havaldar prepared handwritten notes while carrying out translation-related duties connected to the examination process. The agency believes those notes contained important Physics questions and other exam material associated with NEET-UG 2026.
Use of WhatsApp and Printed Notes Under Scanner
The investigation further revealed that the alleged material was later distributed to certain students through WhatsApp messages and printed documents before the examination was conducted.
Sources connected to the inquiry said Havaldar admitted during questioning that she had shared Physics-related questions with at least one student and with Mandhare. The questions were allegedly based on content she had translated or reverse-translated as part of her official assignment.
The CBI also informed the court that financial transactions were linked to the alleged leak operation. According to investigators, Havaldar is suspected to have received Rs 20,000 from one student and another Rs 25,000 from a separate individual in exchange for providing access to the examination content.
Evidence Destruction Claims by Investigators
Investigators additionally claimed that Havaldar attempted to remove evidence after the controversy surfaced. The agency alleged that she deleted chat records exchanged with Mandhare and destroyed handwritten notes related to the Physics question bank by burning them.
After her arrest in Pune, Havaldar was produced before a local court, which granted transit remand. She is expected to be presented before a Delhi court as the investigation is being coordinated at the national level.
NEET-UG Exam Cancellation and Fresh Test Date
The controversy surrounding the medical entrance examination had escalated earlier this month when the National Testing Agency cancelled the May 3 NEET-UG examination following allegations of a question paper leak.
The examination is conducted for admission to undergraduate medical courses across India and involves lakhs of candidates every year.
Authorities later announced that a fresh examination would be conducted on June 21 to ensure fairness and transparency in the admission process.
CBI Expands Nationwide Investigation
The CBI registered a First Information Report on May 12 after receiving a written complaint from the Department of Higher Education under the Union Education Ministry.
So far, the agency has arrested 11 individuals from multiple cities including Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nasik, Pune, Latur and Ahilyanagar as part of the expanding investigation.
In an official statement issued on Friday, the investigating agency said the probe had helped identify what it described as the “actual source” connected to the alleged examination paper leak network.
Officials indicated that further questioning and forensic examination of digital evidence are continuing as investigators attempt to trace the wider chain involved in the suspected malpractice linked to the highly competitive medical entrance examination.