NEET paper leak: CBI now arrests 2 in Maharashtra; 5 others sent to 7-day custody
“Special teams of the CBI have arrested Dhananjay Lokhanda from Ahilyanagar and Manisha Waghmare from Pune on Thursday,” a CBI spokesperson said.
The fresh arrests bring the total number to seven since the agency registered the case on May 12. (File photo) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has intensified its crackdown in the investigation into the alleged NEET–UG 2026 paper leak, arresting two more accused and conducting searches at 14 locations across the country in the last 24 hours.
The fresh arrests bring the total number to seven since the agency registered the case on May 12, following a complaint from the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.
Special teams of the CBI arrested Dhananjay Lokhanda from Ahilyanagar and Manisha Waghmare from Pune in Maharashtra on Thursday, a CBI spokesperson said.
On Wednesday, the CBI had nabbed five accused — three from Jaipur, one from Gurgaon, and one from Nashik. On Thursday, all five of them were produced at a Delhi court, which sent them to a seven-day police custody for interrogation.
The case stems from serious allegations of irregularities in the prestigious medical entrance exam, raising concerns over the integrity of one of India’s most competitive tests.
“The CBI launched coordinated searches and arrests as part of its ongoing investigation into the paper leak conspiracy,” the spokesperson said. The raids targeted locations linked to the accused, with evidence collection focusing on digital trails, documents, and communications that allegedly facilitated the leak.
“Further details on the accused’s roles and recovered evidence are awaited as the probe continues,” the spokesperson added.
The NEET–UG 2026 exam, conducted earlier this month for over 20 lakh medical aspirants, has been under scrutiny after reports of question paper leaks surfaced in Rajasthan and other states. Forensic and technical analysis of seized devices is underway, with the CBI vowing a “comprehensive, impartial and professional” investigation to uncover the full conspiracy.
In the FIR, the complainant has alleged that prior to the examination, certain documents related to the question papers were circulated without authorisation, raising serious concerns about a potential breach in the examination process. “The National Testing Agency had received inputs pointing to the circulation of some documents linked to the exam, prompting an internal review before the matter was escalated to central authorities,” the complainant alleged.
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