Startling details have come to light in the CBI’s investigation into the NEET-UG question paper leak that had triggered nationwide uproar. It has now emerged that the paper was not leaked from the printing press, but rather in April 2026, by three subject experts who were part of the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) confidential question-setting process. The three reportedly dictated the leaked questions during covert sessions, passing them on to candidates through handwritten notes, photographs, and Telegram messages. As is known, the NEET exam, originally scheduled for May 3, had to be cancelled following the leak and was subsequently re-conducted on June 21. According to details disclosed in the CBI chargesheet, three experts — Manisha Gurunath Mandhare (Botany and Zoology), Prahlad Vitthalrao Kulkarni (Chemistry), and Manisha Sanjay Havaldar (Physics) — were found to have leaked questions while engaged in NTA’s confidential examination-related work.
The CBI found that Kulkarni, the chemistry expert, and Mandhare, the biology expert, organized special revision sessions at their residences in Pune based on the leaked questions, personally dictating questions and answers for candidates to note down. Havaldar, meanwhile, is said to have dictated the physics questions to Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, a coaching faculty member based in Pune. Shah reportedly photographed the handwritten notes and forwarded them to Shivraj Motegaonkar, director of the Renjoy Care Center in Latur. Investigators also identified financial transactions linked to an account held by Havaldar’s husband in connection with this exchange. It further emerged that selected candidates were taken to Siddhivinayak Hospital in Latur, where they were made to memorize the leaked questions, with Dr. Manoj Bhagwanrao Shirure allegedly acting as the intermediary coordinating the entire process.
As part of the investigation, CBI officials seized ₹5 lakh in cash from members of Shirure’s family. Investigators also found that questions leaked from Maharashtra reached Rajasthan through digital channels. The CBI established that Shubham Khairnar, from Nashik, sent PDF files via Telegram to Yash Yadav, based in Gurugram. Yadav reportedly sold the questions he received for amounts ranging between ₹10 lakh and ₹12 lakh to Mangilal Bhiwal of Jaipur, who then printed and distributed them among candidates. Notebooks seized by the CBI were examined by handwriting experts at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL). Upon comparing the questions found in candidates’ handwritten notes with the actual NEET-UG paper conducted on May 3, investigators confirmed a complete match. The CBI is said to have cracked the leak chain through a combination of digital records and cash seizures.
Officials stated that the CBI has filed a chargesheet against a total of 13 individuals in the NEET paper leak case. These include the three NTA subject experts, along with individuals linked to coaching institutes, intermediaries, and several candidates. Cases have reportedly been registered against them under charges including criminal conspiracy, cheating, breach of trust, destruction of evidence, the Prevention of Corruption Act, and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act. The CBI has cited 360 witnesses, 422 documents, and 43 key pieces of evidence in the case.
Overall, the CBI chargesheet makes clear that a large network was behind the leak of the NEET question paper. The investigating agency stated that the episode stemmed from security lapses at the question-preparation stage itself, the involvement of insiders, and a network of intermediaries. However, the allegations contained in the CBI chargesheet remain subject to proof during trial in court.