The CBI arrested Pune-based lecturers PV Kulkarni and Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, accusing them of leaking chemistry, botany, and zoology questions from the National Testing Agency (NTA).
Investigators say they received the question papers and answer keys on April 27 with help from an unnamed NTA official. This is the first time a suspected source of a NEET leak has been traced to the NTA, marking a serious breach of the exam’s security protocols.
Leak network spanned states and coaching hubs, CBI reveal
The probe has revealed a network involving intermediaries from Nashik, Gurugram, Jaipur, and Sikar. They sold leaked papers for up to ₹10 lakh. Material that allegedly circulated via Telegram contained 500 to 600 questions, with up to 150 matching the final paper.
Coaching operators in Rajasthan’s Sikar district and secret classes in Pune were key distribution points. This suggests a coordinated interstate racket rather than isolated wrongdoing.
Sikar deal reveals poor returns for buyer
In one case, the accused Dinesh Bival allegedly paid nearly ₹10 lakh in Sikar to get the leaked paper for his son, Rishi. Despite this, Rishi scored only 107 out of 720 and had a history of poor academic performance, including grace marks in Class 12.
Investigators are still looking for him, highlighting both the financial stakes and the questionable effectiveness of such illegal purchases.
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