Pune, 23rd May 2026: In connection with the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday arrested another professor from Pune. The agency said that the accused played a key role in leaking the Physics paper to selected students ahead of the examination.
The arrested professor has been identified as Manisha Sanjay Hawaldar, who is currently associated with Seth Hiralal Saraf Prashala in Pune. According to the CBI, she is one of the accused involved in the larger paper leak network being investigated across the country.
Investigators suspect that Hawaldar helped provide the Physics question paper to a group of interested candidates before the exam. Officials believe her involvement could help uncover more links in the organised paper leak racket.
The latest arrest comes days after the CBI arrested Manisha Mandhare, a Biology professor from Modern College in Shivajinagar, in the same case. With two arrests now made from Pune, investigators are closely examining the local connections linked to the leak.
The CBI said the probe is underway at multiple locations across India to identify others involved in the racket. The agency is also investigating possible financial transactions and the wider network behind the circulation of leaked question papers.
Hawaldar is currently being questioned, and officials are trying to trace additional accused persons and establish how the leaked papers were distributed before the NEET-UG 2026 examination.
