Pune college suspends biology expert arrested in NEET 2026 paper leak case

Pune: The Biology lecturer who was part of the National Testing Agency's (NTA) paper-setting committee for the NEET UG 2026 exam held on May 3, and was recently arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly leaking NEET questions and answers to selected students in exchange for lakhs of rupees, has been suspended by Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce.

She has been suspended under Rule 33(5) of the Maharashtra Employees of Private Schools (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1981, which deals with the deemed suspension of an employee facing criminal proceedings or detention, with immediate effect from May 16.

The arrested teacher taught Biology to Class 11 and 12 students in the junior college section. She had been associated with the institution since 2002 and was due to retire in seven months.

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The suspension order was issued on the same day she was taken into CBI custody. Following her arrest, the college convened an emergency meeting of the Progressive Education Society's governing body and decided to suspend her.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Biology teacher was arrested after being questioned by the agency at its headquarters. She was allegedly involved in the National Eligibility Entrance Test (Undergraduate) examination process and was appointed by the NTA as an expert. She had complete access to the Botany and Zoology question papers.

She is alleged to have mobilised prospective NEET examination candidates in April 2026 through another individual, Pune, who was arrested on May 14, and conducted special coaching classes for these students at her Pune residence.

It is alleged that the accused dictated leaked questions and responses to select students and took lakhs of rupees as fees. Most of these questions tallied with the questions that appeared in the examination on May 3. The NEET exam was cancelled following allegations of a paper leak.

Speaking to HT, the college administration, after suspending her, said, "She had been assigned confidential NEET-related responsibilities directly by the National Testing Agency (NTA) based on her teaching experience, and the appointment and all related communication were handled solely by the NTA. The institution and college administration have no direct or indirect connection with the alleged incident."

Calling the alleged paper leak a "serious and condemnable" matter that undermines the credibility of the education sector, the institution said, "Details of the suspension had been communicated to the education commissioner, the deputy director of education and other authorities concerned."

Shamkant Deshmukh, secretary of the Progressive Education Society, said, "We have taken immediate action in the matter and suspended the concerned teacher as per the provisions of the Maharashtra Employees of Private Schools Rules. Progressive Education Society and Modern College have no connection with the confidential work assigned by the NTA, and we will extend full cooperation to the investigating agencies, including the CBI."

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