The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed a Pune court that Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, principal of a Pune school, was arrested in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. According to PTI sources, Havaldar allegedly shared exam-related questions with certain students in exchange for money.
The CBI’s submission came as the agency sought her transit remand following her arrest on Friday. Havaldar, who served as an empanelled Physics translator for NEET UG-2026, is slated to appear before a Delhi court on Monday.
Sources indicated that the CBI’s investigation revealed Havaldar conspired with botany lecturer Manisha Mandhare, who is already in custody, to convey confidential NEET-related materials to select students for financial compensation. Havaldar reportedly prepared handwritten notes with exam-related questions while completing tasks assigned by the National Testing Agency (NTA). These materials were allegedly distributed to students through WhatsApp and printed copies prior to the May 3 examination.
Havaldar admitted to sharing Physics questions from the exam, which she had translated or reverse-translated, with one student and Mandhare, a faculty member at Modern College of Arts and Science in Pune. The CBI stated that Havaldar received Rs 20,000 from one student and Rs 25,000 from another for her involvement in the leak. Investigators also claimed she deleted chats with Mandhare and disposed of notes associated with the Physics question bank.
The NEET-UG 2026 examination, designed for admissions to undergraduate medical courses, was ultimately cancelled following the allegations of a paper leak. The investigation into the irregularities has since been handed over to the CBI, which has arrested ten individuals in relation to the case thus far.
