NEET UG Paper Leak Case: Delhi Court Extends Judicial Custody Of 13 Accused Till July 24, CBI Says More Arrests Likely
A Delhi court extended the judicial custody of 13 accused in the NEET UG paper leak case till July 24 after the CBI informed the court that the investigation was continuing and more arrests were likely
A Delhi court on Friday extended the judicial custody of all 13 accused arrested in the NEET UG examination paper leak case till July 24, while the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed the court that its probe is still underway and further arrests are likely.
The accused were produced before the Rouse Avenue Court through video conferencing after the expiry of their previous judicial custody.
Those whose custody was extended include Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, Tejas Harshad Kumar Shah, Dinesh Biwal, Vikas Biwal, Mangi Lal Biwal, Yash Yadav, Prahlad Kulkarni, Dr. Manoj Shirure, Dhananjay Lokhande, Shubham Khairnar, Manisha Waghmare, Manisha Mandhare, and Manisha Sanjay Hawaldar.
During the hearing, the CBI submitted that the investigation into the alleged paper leak conspiracy remains ongoing and informed the court that more arrests are likely as the probe progresses.
After considering the agency's submissions, the court extended the judicial custody of all 13 accused till July 24.
The case relates to the alleged leak of the NEET UG examination paper, which is being investigated by the CBI for its suspected role in a larger organised conspiracy involving the leakage and circulation of the examination paper.
On July 8, the Court had remanded the alleged mastermind of the NEET UG 2026 paper leak, P.V. Kulkarni, and co-accused Manisha Waghmare to 10 days of CBI custody, accepting the probe agency's submission that custodial interrogation was necessary to unearth the larger conspiracy behind the examination leak.
Special CBI Judge Ajay Gupta of Rouse Avenue Court passed the order after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sought a 14-day remand, stating that both accused needed to be taken outside Delhi for further investigation.
Appearing for the CBI, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Neetu Gupta argued that Kulkarni, a chemistry lecturer from Latur, Maharashtra, was a subject expert associated with setting the NEET UG 2026 question paper on behalf of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and had access to confidential examination material.
The agency further alleged that co-accused Dhananjay Lokhande had procured the leaked question paper from Manisha Waghmare, indicating a wider network involved in the leak.
After hearing detailed submissions from both sides, the court granted 10 days' CBI custody instead of the 14 days sought by the investigating agency.
Earlier custody extended
Earlier in the day, the same court had extended the judicial custody till July 11 of Kulkarni and Renukai Career Centre (RCC) founder Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, another accused in the case.
Motegaonkar was arrested in May from Latur. According to the CBI, searches conducted at his premises led to the recovery of the leaked NEET UG question paper for the May 3 examination from his mobile phone.
The agency has alleged that Motegaonkar was an active member of the organised syndicate involved in leaking and circulating the examination paper and played a key role in distributing the question paper and answer keys through his coaching centre.
Kulkarni, also a resident of Latur, was arrested in Pune last month. The CBI has claimed that he had been associated with the NEET paper-setting process for several years as a domain expert in chemistry.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) had cancelled the NEET UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 following allegations of a paper leak. A re-examination was subsequently held on June 21.
In a related news, Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar has also moved a bail application before the Court. "Copy of the application has been supplied to the Ld. Sr.PP for CBI. Ld. Sr.PP for CBI seeks time to file the reply to the aforesaid application. At request, put up for reply and arguments on the aforesaid application on 15.07.2026 at 2.00 p.m," the Court said. The Court further ordered, "At this stage, Ld.Counsel submits that accused may also be directed to be produced from JC through VC at the time of arguments. At request, Jail Superintendent concerned be directed to produce the accused through VC on the date fixed. Copy of this order be sent to the Jail Superintendent for information and compliance."
Hearing Date: July 11, 2026