Big action in NEET-UG paper leak case, new appointments in NTA; Another mastermind arrested

New Delhi:After the NEET-UG exam paper leak case, anger has spread across the country. Student organizations and lakhs of candidates have raised questions on the examination system and efficiency of NTA. Protests and dharnas are continuing at many places. Meanwhile, the Central Government on Saturday appointed two joint secretaries and two joint directors in NTA.

According to the order issued by the Personnel Ministry, Anuja Bapat and Ruchita Vij have been appointed joint secretaries for five years. Akash Jain and Aditya Rajendra Bhojgadia have been made joint directors. Amidst the investigation into the NEET-UG paper leak case, these appointments are being linked to strengthening the functioning of the agency.

Who are the newly appointed officers?

Anuja Bapat is a 1998 batch officer of the Indian Statistical Service, while Ruchita Vij is a 2004 batch officer of the Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes). Both the officers have been assigned their new responsibilities for five years.

Akash Jain, who was made joint director, is an officer associated with the Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax). Aditya Rajendra Bhojgadia is an officer of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service. The government has tried to strengthen the administrative structure of the agency through these appointments.

Big action by CBI in paper leak case

CBI has arrested Pune’s senior Botany teacher Manisha Gurunath Mandhare in this case. According to the investigating agency, the accused was the ‘key conspirator of the paper leak’ and is considered to be the mastermind of the biology question paper leak.

According to the CBI, Mandhare was appointed by the NTA as an expert in the NEET-UG 2026 examination process, due to which he had full access to the Botany and Zoology question papers. Investigation revealed that during April 2026, he connected many candidates to this network through Manisha Waghmare of Pune.

Nine accused arrested so far

So far, nine accused have been arrested from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahiliyanagar in the paper leak case. CBI has arrested “paper leak kingpin” P.V. The search for two more associates of Kulkarni has been intensified. The investigating agency is continuously conducting raids in Pune and Latur.