NEET Leak: CBI Says 3 NTA Experts ‘Abused’ Access to Question Papers
- pradeep
- Aug 8
- 2 min read
A Central Bureau of Investigation chargesheet in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case has named three Pune-based National Testing Agency subject experts as the alleged primary sources of the leaked questions. The accused are P V Kulkarni (Chemistry), Manisha Sanjay Havaldar (Physics) and Manisha Gurunath Mandhare (Botany and Zoology).
The allegations are contained in the CBI’s chargesheet and have yet to be adjudicated by a court.
Who Are the Three NTA Experts?
According to the CBI chargesheet reported by Hindustan Times, the three experts were involved in different stages of NEET question-paper preparation and had access to confidential material. Investigators allege that NTA’s processes allowed all three to view the four master question sets during the final stages.
1. Manisha Gurunath Mandhare Biology
Mandhare was reportedly involved in item writing, vetting, translation and back-translation for the examination.
The CBI alleges that she conducted Biology classes for eight students at her Pune residence and used their own NCERT Class XI and XII textbooks to identify and dictate passages containing questions that would later appear in NEET.
Students allegedly wrote the dictated material into notebooks, which Mandhare later checked. Coordination for the classes reportedly took place through a WhatsApp group named “Fifa world cup 2026.”
2. P V Kulkarni — Chemistry
Kulkarni was engaged by the NTA for item writing and back-translation.
Investigators allege that he exploited inadequate security checks inside the NTA’s confidential section to write down 135 Chemistry questions and answers on small paper chits and take them outside the facility.
The chargesheet further alleges that Kulkarni conducted short coaching sessions in Pune and Latur for nine students in April and supplied the questions for money.
3. Manisha Sanjay Havaldar — Physics
Havaldar was engaged for translation and back-translation work.
Unlike the other accused experts, she did not reportedly operate her own coaching classes. The CBI nevertheless alleges that she memorised questions from Physics master sets and later reconstructed around 68 questions on paper while staying in Delhi.
She allegedly dictated the questions to another person in exchange for ₹25,000 and a box of mangoes, before sharing notes with Mandhare and another accused through WhatsApp.
CBI Flags Security Failures at NTA
The investigation has also highlighted alleged weaknesses in the NTA’s question-paper preparation system.
According to the chargesheet, the testing agency repeatedly used the same experts across different stages of the highly confidential process. Investigators also flagged insufficient frisking, check-in and check-out procedures and inadequate CCTV coverage in sensitive areas.
13 Accused Named
The CBI chargesheet names 13 accused in the case. The three NTA experts face allegations including criminal breach of trust and misconduct linked to their access to confidential examination material.
The CBI has said its investigation found no evidence implicating government officials or NTA office-bearers in the alleged leak.
NEET Exam Was Cancelled and Re-Conducted
The NEET-UG examination held on May 3, 2026 was cancelled on May 12 after allegations of a question-paper leak emerged. A fresh examination was subsequently conducted on June 21.
The controversy triggered widespread protests and intense scrutiny of the examination system and the security procedures used by the NTA.
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