NEET leak probe widens: CBI questions doc, RCC founder’s son; searches underway for key middleman

New DelhiMay 19, 2026 09:56 AM IST The NEET-UG 2026 paper leak sparked protests across the country, with many demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. (File Photo)Days after arresting two Pune teachers linked to the NEET-UG 2026 examination process, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday reportedly questioned office-bearers of the National Testing Agency (NTA), which administers the entrance test for admission to undergraduate medical colleges, and recorded their statements. The CBI, which is investigating the leak of the NEET-UG 2026 question papers before the May 3 examination, had asked the education ministry to provide a list of people involved in the paper-setting procedure on behalf of the NTA. Accordingly, last week, the NTA had shared a list of names of question paper setters, translators, and their office bearers involved in the examination process.“After getting the list, the CBI scanned their phone records, trying to establish a link with the arrested teachers and their handlers,” a source said. “We are questioning them to understand the procedure and also trying to understand the role of all the officials of NTA,” the source added. The Indian Express had first reported that P V Kulkarni, a retired lecturer who was arrested in Pune, was involved in setting questions for the Chemistry section and in translating them into Marathi. Sources said the NTA has several experts involved in the question paper-setting process and sometimes uses the same individual for both setting and translation to minimise the number of people with access to the questions. While seeking the police custody of Manisha Mandhare, a Pune teacher arrested by the CBI in connection with the case, the central agency told a Delhi court that “the investigation is at its very initial and crucial stage” and that it wanted to unearth the “larger conspiracy as well as to arrest all the other active members of this organised paper leak gang”. Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security. Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat. During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd Tags: CBI National Testing Agency NEET

Dr Sanjay Waghmare’s clinic, ‘Dental Designs’, at a shopping complex in Pune has been shut for the past three days. (Express photo by Pavan Khengre) Shutters are down at Dr Sanjay Waghmare’s clinic ‘Dental Designs’, at Kapil Upvan complex in Pune’s Bibwewadi. It was from this clinic that Dr Waghmare’s wife Manisha, allegedly key to the leak of the NEET-UG examination paper that has led to its cancellation, is said to have run her “beauty parlour”. However, before Manisha’s name surfaced as a central figure in the leak, leading to her arrest on May 14, hardly anyone in the shopping complex knew about the 46-year-old, and certainly not as a beautician. A former employee at her husband’s clinic — a multi-speciality clinic, offering a range of dental services, including orthodontic — said what was being described as a “parlour” was little more than a small section within the establishment. Chaitrali Katekhaye, who owns an adjoining salon at the shopping complex, ‘Style and Smile’, said: “I remember Manisha getting her children to my parlour for a haircut. Beyond that, we barely interacted.”Naveena (23), who is employed with a pharmaceutical distributor’s firm in the complex, said that in the two years she had been working there, she never heard of a beauty parlour at the clinic. Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar told The Indian Express that they did not know much about Manisha, and had only detained her, before handing her over to the CBI. It was during interrogation by CBI officials, Pune Police sources said, that details about her became clear. CBI sources said that Manisha did small-time “beauty saloon” work. The agency believes Manisha connected students looking for tuitions with teachers of reputed schools, and then allegedly used the same contacts to distribute the leaked paper. Waghmare’s clinic has been shut for the past three days, said owners of other establishments at the shopping complex. The Gagan Osian Park Society where the Waghmares live with their children incidentally is the same complex where Manisha Mandhare, another accused in the case, stays. Mandhare was one of the exam setters with the National Testing Agency (NTA) that conducts NEET. “Our society has 252 flats. The news about these arrests has come as a tremendous shock to all of us,” said Rajkumar Birjadar, secretary of the cooperative housing society. The Waghmare flat is latched from the outside. A neighbour said: “The family mostly kept to themselves. We really do not know them well.” Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowsh