Delhi Court Sends Three Individuals to Custody in NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak Case
Judicial Custody Granted in NEET-UG 2026 Investigation
Representational Image
New Delhi, June 1: A court in Delhi has ordered the judicial custody of three individuals, including a doctor from Latur and a faculty member from a Pune coaching institute, until June 15 as part of the investigation into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case being pursued by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The Rouse Avenue Court issued the remand for Dr. Manoj Shirure, Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, and Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, who are implicated in the ongoing CBI inquiry regarding the alleged leak of examination papers for the NEET-UG 2026.
The CBI initiated this case on May 12, following a complaint from the Department of Higher Education under the Union Ministry of Education.
According to the CBI's findings, Dr. Shirure was instrumental in assisting three students, including the son of a coaching centre owner, in acquiring Chemistry questions from the alleged mastermind, P.V. Kulkarni, prior to the exam.
Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, a Physics instructor at the Abhang Prabhu Medical Academy in Pune, is accused of receiving leaked Physics questions from co-defendant Manisha Havaldar.
The arrests are part of a broader investigation into a network suspected of obtaining and distributing NEET question papers ahead of the examination.
The CBI has conducted searches at 49 locations nationwide, confiscating numerous incriminating documents, laptops, and mobile devices, which are currently under thorough examination.
The agency has reaffirmed its dedication to conducting a thorough, unbiased, and professional investigation, with ongoing efforts to uncover the complete conspiracy and identify all parties involved in the alleged wrongdoing.
In parallel, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports is engaging in discussions regarding NEET and the National Testing Agency (NTA), addressing concerns about examination procedures and the ongoing debate over pen-and-paper tests versus Computer-Based Tests (CBTs).
The committee is also assessing the developments in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case and the measures being implemented to ensure the integrity of future examinations.
During a recent meeting, committee members stressed the importance of maintaining the integrity of the NEET-UG examination and addressing systemic weaknesses while monitoring the CBI's investigation progress.
The NTA plans to conduct the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination on June 21, with admit cards expected to be released by June 14. The original examination was cancelled on May 12 due to allegations of a paper leak, raising significant concerns among candidates and their families.