The CBI has identified three Pune-based NTA subject experts—Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, P V Kulkarni, and Manisha Sanjay Havaldar—as the primary sources of the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.
The chargesheet alleges Mandhare leaked biology questions to eight students, Kulkarni leaked 135 chemistry questions via paper chits, and Havaldar sold 68 physics questions for ₹25,000 and mangoes.
The investigation revealed the NTA violated protocols by allowing these experts access to all four master question sets, leading to the cancellation of the May 3 exam and a re-exam on June 21.