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Arrested biology lecturer sent to 14-day CBI custody (Img: Internet)
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Sunday granted 14-day custody of Manisha Gurunath Mandhare to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak investigation.
Mandhare, a biology lecturer from Pune, was produced before the Rouse Avenue Court after being arrested by the CBI on Saturday. Investigators have described her as one of the key accused in the case involving the alleged leak of Biology-related questions from the medical entrance examination.
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During the hearing, the CBI sought custodial interrogation of the accused, arguing that the investigation was spread across several states and required further questioning and confrontation with other accused persons.
Mandhare’s lawyer opposed the plea, claiming her arrest was unlawful. The defence also requested permission to meet the accused for 15 minutes daily during custody, which the court allowed.
After hearing both sides, the court granted the CBI 14-day custody and directed that the accused be produced before the concerned court again on May 30 following medical examination procedures.
According to the CBI, Mandhare was associated with the National Testing Agency (NTA) as an expert involved in the translation of Botany and Zoology question papers for NEET-UG 2026.
Investigators alleged that she acted in coordination with co-accused PV Kulkarni and Manisha Waghmare as part of a larger conspiracy linked to the paper leak.
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The agency further claimed that Mandhare allegedly shared examination questions with another accused identified as Shubham and conducted coaching sessions for selected candidates in Pune.
The CBI said several questions discussed during these sessions reportedly matched those that appeared in the actual NEET-UG examination conducted on May 3.
As part of the ongoing investigation, the agency has conducted searches at multiple locations across the country and seized laptops, mobile phones, bank records and other documents considered important to the probe.
