3 weeks ago
NEET-UG leak masterminds used 'FIFA World Cup 2026' WhatsApp group
Some grown-ups are accused of cheating at a big medical school test called NEET-UG.
This test helps students get into medical colleges in India.
The police agency called the CBI found out that test questions were shared before the exam.
Expert computer investigators looked at phones and recovered messages people thought they had deleted.
They found leaked test questions on WhatsApp and Telegram.
A secret WhatsApp group was named 'FIFA World Cup 2026' to hide what it was really about.
The group's creator taught biology classes and told students to write down questions in their notebooks.
Police arrested people in many cities, including the person they believe was the boss.
Some suspects are accused of sharing questions for money.
Now police are working to prove who is responsible for the leak.
CBI investigators recovered deleted WhatsApp chats and leaked PDF question papers through forensic imaging of suspects' mobile devices.
The crackdown began on 13 May with arrests in Rajasthan of Mangilal, Dinesh, and Vikas Biwal, whose phones contained leaked PDFs received via Telegram dated 29 April.
A WhatsApp group named 'FIFA World Cup 2026', created by Manisha Mandhare in November 2025, connected eight students with subject experts and was exposed by statements from two NEET candidates.
Alleged mastermind PV Kulkarni was arrested on 15 May in Latur after holding secret Chemistry classes at his Nanded City residence in April.
Arrests continued through 26 May, including Physics expert Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, who allegedly leaked 66 handwritten questions for monetary gain.
Leaked material spanned Biology, Chemistry, and Physics and was allegedly processed at the dental clinic of facilitator Manisha Sanjay Waghmare's husband.
- Who
- The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which arrested 13 suspects including alleged mastermind PV Kulkarni and facilitators Manisha Mandhare and Manisha Sanjay Waghmare.
- What
- A NEET-UG paper leak conspiracy in which leaked exam questions were distributed through WhatsApp and Telegram before the examination.
- Where
- Multiple locations in India, including Rajasthan, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune, Latur, and Nanded City.
- When
- The crackdown began on 13 May, with arrests continuing through 26 May; leaked PDFs were traced to messages dated 29 April.
- Why
- Suspects allegedly leaked questions for monetary gain and coordinated students' exam preparation, including post-exam evaluation and mark calculations.
Key facts
- Investigating agency
- CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation)
- Exam affected
- NEET-UG
- Alleged mastermind
- PV Kulkarni
- Key WhatsApp group
- FIFA World Cup 2026
- First arrests
- 13 May, Rajasthan
- Subjects involved
- Biology, Chemistry, Physics
- Handwritten questions leaked
- 66 (allegedly by Manisha Sanjay Havaldar)
- Total suspects arrested
- 13
Sources
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