NEET-UG 2026 paper leak: Court grants 10-day CBI custody of two accused

NEW DELHI: Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Saturday granted 10 days custody of accused Manisha Waghmare and PV Kulkarni to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) amid the NEET-UG exam paper leak row for further interrogation in the case. The CBI told the court that both accused were part of a larger conspiracy involving the alleged obtaining and distribution of the leaked NEET-UG 2026 question paper. Earlier in the day, both accused were produced before the court after the CBI sought 14 days custody, arguing that custodial interrogation was necessary to uncover the wider network involved in the paper leak racket. The court had reserved its order before later granting 10 days custody to the agency. According to the CBI, Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a senior Botany teacher from Pune who was arrested earlier, had allegedly leaked Biology-related questions from the NEET-UG 2026 paper. Investigators claimed she was associated with the examination process through the National Testing Agency (NTA) and had access to Botany and Zoology question papers. Also Read | NEET paper leak: CBI arrests Pune botany teacher who NTA appointed as expert The agency alleged that Mandhare, along with Manisha Waghmare, mobilised prospective candidates and conducted special coaching sessions at her Pune residence, where several questions from the actual examination were allegedly disclosed in advance. The CBI further informed the court that retired chemistry professor PV Kulkarni, who was earlier arrested from Latur, Maharashtra, was also associated with the NTA panel involved in question paper setting. The agency has carried out searches at multiple locations across the country and seized laptops, mobile phones, bank statements and several incriminating documents as part of the investigation. So far, nine accused have been arrested from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahilyanagar in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. The NEET-UG 2026 re-examination is scheduled to be held on June 21.