A Pune-based coaching institute has come under the scanner in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak investigation after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested two more people, including a Physics faculty member associated with the academy, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 13.
In a statement issued Wednesday, CBI said it had arrested Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, a Physics faculty member at Dr Abhang Prabhu Medical Academy (APMA) in Shivajinagar, and Dr Manoj Shirure, a doctor based in Latur.
According to the agency, Shah allegedly “got the leaked Physics questions of NEET UG 2026 Exam from the arrested accused Manisha Havaldar”, while Shirure reportedly “played a key role in facilitating three students, including the son of an accused coaching centre owner, in getting the Chemistry questions from the accused P V Kulkarni”.
When The Indian Express visited APMA in Shivajinagar, it found that Shah also served as the academy’s chief operating officer.
Sachin Haldavnekar, chairperson of the academy, said Shah had been associated with the institute for the last four years and had earlier worked in Mumbai before moving to Pune.
Responding to questions about Shah’s role at the institute, Haldavnekar said, “He was managing the staff. We gave him that position, but it was basic administration of the office staff. The institute has no role in the paper leak. Our institute has been known for its fair practices for the last four years. He has been taken in an individual capacity.”
Asked about Shah’s alleged connection with Manisha Havaldar — the Physics teacher and principal of Seth Hiralal Saraf School, who was earlier arrested by CBI in the same case — Haldavnekar said he was unaware of any close association between them.
Haldavnekar denied that Shah had prior information that Havaldar was an expert associated with the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts NEET.
“I don’t think there was any relation. I think there was only one meeting. As she is a senior faculty member, he wanted to clarify certain doubts. There are certain chapters on which JEE-Mains asks questions. Since the paper setter body is NTA and it conducts NEET also, he wanted clarification on whether those topics, since they are not in the NEET syllabus, will be asked,” he said.
Giving an example, Haldavnekar added, “Radioactivity is in JEE Main but not defined in NEET. So he wanted a clarification from her.”
When asked why Shah approached Havaldar specifically for clarification, Haldavnekar said, “She is a senior faculty member, that’s all.”
