{
  "id": 259620,
  "title": "How a 'Fifa world cup 2026' WhatsApp group exposed NEET leak",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/how-a-fifa-world-cup-2026-whatsapp-group-exposed-neet-leak",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-07T09:46:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times",
    "slug": "hindustan-times",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/how-a-fifa-world-cup-2026-whatsapp-group-exposed-neet-paper-leak-101786095453493.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In November of last year, eight students formed a WhatsApp group named \"Fifa world cup 2026\" to prepare for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) (NEET-UG). The group, created by Manisha Mandhare and PV Kulkarni, was later revealed to be involved in a NEET paper leak conspiracy. The CBI's 20,000 page chargesheet accused Mandhare of creating the group for special Biology classes and to discuss post-NEET paper evaluation and mark calculation. She allegedly provided students with identical questions from the NEET-UG exam, dictating them during Biology classes and having them written in their textbooks. Kulkarni conducted similar classes at his house, providing Chemistry questions to nine students. The group also included Manisha Havaldar, a Physics subject expert, who was arrested for allegedly leaking 66 handwritten questions. The chargesheet revealed that Waghmare, a beautician, facilitated the group by adding members and offering online and offline Chemistry and Botany classes from contracted experts. She used her dental clinic to coordinate and process leaked questions for different subjects.",
  "summary": "A WhatsApp group called \"Fifa World Cup 2026\" was created by eight students in November last year, which led to the exposure of a National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) paper leak. This information was shared with CBI officials, who subsequently uncovered the modus operandi of a paper leak conspiracy. The chargesheet submitted by the CBI before a Delhi court contains details of how Manisha Mandhare, a Pune-based beautician and facilitator for all NEET subjects, created the group to coordinate special Biology classes and discuss class schedules, post-NEET paper evaluation, and mark calculation. The CBI further stated that Manisha Waghmare, the facilitator, helped add members to this online group and offered students both online and offline Chemistry and Botany classes from subject experts contracted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for translation and proofreading.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "'FIFA' group, small chits: How 3 NTA experts at centre of NEET leak probe 'abused' positions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/fifa-group-small-chits-how-3-nta-experts-at-centre-of-neet-leak-probe",
        "published": "2026-08-08T04:40:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}