NEET Paper Leak: 11th Accused Held in Pune
CBI arrests physics expert Manisha Havaldar for allegedly leaking NEET UG questions; accused linked to wider national paper leak network
Pune | The investigation into the alleged NEET UG paper leak case has intensified further as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested the 11th accused from Pune on Friday. The arrested accused has been identified as Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, who allegedly leaked Physics questions from the NEET examination paper.
According to investigation officials, Manisha Havaldar was working at Seth Hiralal Saraf Prashala in Pune and had been appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) as a subject expert for the examination process. Due to her role in the paper-setting mechanism, she allegedly had direct access to the Physics question paper.
CBI sources revealed that Havaldar, along with previously arrested accused Manisha Mandhare, allegedly leaked several Physics questions before the examination. During the investigation, officials matched the leaked questions with the actual NEET UG paper and found that the same questions had appeared in the final examination.
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The latest arrest has expanded the scope of the high-profile NEET paper leak investigation, which has already led to arrests across multiple cities including Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune, Latur, and Ahilyanagar. So far, 11 accused persons have been taken into custody in connection with the case.
Meanwhile, the National Testing Agency (NTA) appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports on Thursday regarding the controversy surrounding the NEET UG examination.
During the meeting, BJP members reportedly objected to the use of the term “paper leak” in official discussions and agenda documents. The committee meeting also discussed the cancellation of this year’s NEET UG examination following allegations of irregularities.
According to reports, opposition members strongly objected to the BJP’s stance during the discussion. However, both the NTA and the concerned ministry maintained that the examination paper was not leaked through the official system.
The NEET UG paper leak controversy has triggered nationwide outrage, raising serious concerns over examination security, transparency, and the future of lakhs of medical aspirants across the country.
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