NEET UG 2026 Paper Leak Exposes NTA Experts in Multi‑State CBI Chargesheet
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a 94‑page chargesheet before the Special CBI Court at Rouse Avenue, Delhi, naming 13 accused in the NEET‑UG 2026 paper‑leak case. Three National Testing Agency (NTA) subject experts – Manisha Gurunath Mandhare (botany), Prahlad Vithalrao Kulkarni (chemistry) and Manisha Sanjay Havaldar (physics) – are alleged to have misused their official access to confidential question papers.
The CBI describes a multi‑state criminal conspiracy that involved coaching operators, brokers and candidates across Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan and other states. The experts allegedly removed papers from NTA’s confidential section, exploiting the absence of frisking and dedicated CCTV monitoring. Leaked questions were transmitted via WhatsApp, Telegram, PDF and image files, often after being recorded on paper chits or memorised from NCERT textbooks.
Accused Yash Yadav is said to have collected Class X and XII mark‑sheets, transfer certificates and a signed blank cheque from candidates as security for the leaked material. Digital forensics of seized mobile phones, pen drives and other devices uncovered the communication trail and financial transactions. The charges invoke sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, exposing the accused to life imprisonment or up to ten years’ jail and fines up to ₹10 crore. The court is scheduled to take cognizance of the chargesheet on August 10.
Entities: Central Bureau of Investigation · Manisha Gurunath Mandhare · Manisha Sanjay Havaldar · National Testing Agency · Prahlad Vithalrao Kulkarni · Prahlad Vitthalrao Kulkarni · Supreme Court of India · Yash Yadav
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The charges invoke sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, exposing the accused to life imprisonment or (supported by articles 4a646f09, 37ee080c, 06b859e8)
- [● 10 SOURCES] CBI filed a 94‑page chargesheet naming 13 accused in the NEET‑UG 2026 paper‑leak case. (supported by articles 32e17f44, f66dd6f3, 35e13349, 65602344, 4a646f09, 37ee080c, 98bf9aba, 8ca9c5f1, 574ac088, 3a83b6b0)
- [● 3 SOURCES] NTA experts accessed confidential question papers in the agency’s confidential section, exploiting lack of frisking and CCTV monitoring. (supported by articles 65602344, 574ac088, 4a646f09)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Digital forensics recovered mobile phones, pen drives and other devices containing communication and financial transaction evidence. (supported by articles 32e17f44, 65602344, 98bf9aba, 06b859e8)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Accused Yash Yadav collected Class X and XII certificates and a signed blank cheque from candidates as security for the leaked paper. (supported by articles f66dd6f3, 8ca9c5f1, 06b859e8)
- [● 8 SOURCES] Three NTA subject experts – Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, Prahlad Vithalrao Kulkarni and Manisha Sanjay Havaldar – are among the accused. (supported by articles 32e17f44, 35e13349, 65602344, 4a646f09, 37ee080c, 574ac088, 3a83b6b0, 06b859e8)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Leaked questions were shared via WhatsApp, Telegram, PDF and image files. (supported by articles 32e17f44, 65602344, 98bf9aba, 06b859e8)
- [● 5 SOURCES] The leak involved a multi‑state conspiracy spanning Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan and other states. (supported by articles 35e13349, 65602344, 98bf9aba, 3a83b6b0, 06b859e8)