New Delhi : The CBI today arrested a biology lecturer who was part of the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) paper-setting committee for the 2026 NEET-UG entrance examination held on May 3. She was arrested on the basis of questioning of alleged kingpin PV Kulkarni, a retired Chemistry professor, and others arrested in the paper leak case.
Mandhare works at the Modern College of Arts Science and Commerce in Pune. According to sources from the educational institution, she has contributed to question paper-setting for NEET on behalf of the NTA for the past five to six years. Mandhare had helped set the Botany and Zoology Questions for the 2026 NEET question paper, the sources added. She was allegedly appointed by the NTA as an expert, officials said.
It has been claimed by the central agency that Mandhare dictated the leaked questions and responses to them and took lakhs of rupees as fee. During these classes she explained and disclosed various questions from Botany and Zoology subjects and made the students note down the same in their notebooks and also mark in their text books,” the CBI stated.
Most of these questions tallied with the questions that appeared in the examination on May 3, the probe agency added. It added that the candidates for the special coaching sessions were mobilised by Mandhare with help from Manisha Wagmare, another accused, who was arrested on May 14. During April 2026 she had mobilized prospective NEET examination candidates through Manisha Wagmare of Pune (already arrested on 14-05-26) and conducted special coaching classes for these students at her Pune residence,” the CBI said.
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