Pune Police on Wednesday detained a woman from Bibwewadi and an engineering student for their alleged involvement in the nationwide NEET paper leak case currently being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The woman, identified as Manisha Waghmare, 47, is a resident of Sukhsagar in Bibwewadi and runs a beauty parlour. Police said her husband is a dentist. The second suspect, Sheshrao Solanki, is a second-year engineering student studying at a reputed college in Pune.
According to investigators, the duo allegedly worked as middlemen in the racket by identifying students, collecting money from candidates, and connecting them to the accused involved in the paper leak operation.
During the probe, officials found that Waghmare had allegedly been in contact with key suspect Dhananjay Lokhande for nearly three years. Lokhande, considered a major accused in the case, had reportedly been staying in Wagholi for the past four to five years.
Police tracked Lokhande’s location in Wagholi on Tuesday, but he allegedly escaped before officers arrived. Later, the CBI, with assistance from local police, detained him from Rahuri in Ahilyanagar district during an operation conducted after midnight. Two other suspects were also taken into custody.
Based on information gathered during the investigation, Pune Police detained Waghmare on Wednesday morning and later handed her over to the CBI after preliminary questioning. Solanki is currently being questioned regarding his suspected role in the case.
Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said the two were detained based on suspicion. He added that the woman was later transferred to CBI custody, while questioning of the student is still underway.