NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak: Delhi Court Allows CBI to Question Three Alleged Key Conspirators in Jail
Delhi court permits CBI to question three accused in judicial custody in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. The agency alleges they were key conspirators involved in leaking the examination paper for monetary gain.
Verdicto News Desk 
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Monday permitted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to interrogate three accused persons lodged in judicial custody in connection with the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case.
The order was passed by Duty Judge Surender Mohit Singh on an application moved by the CBI seeking permission to question Manisha Sanjay Waghmare, Dhanunjay Nivrutti Lokhande, and Shubham Madhukar Khairnar inside jail as part of its ongoing investigation.
According to the agency, the three accused played a central role in the alleged conspiracy surrounding the leak of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026 question paper.
In its plea before the court, the CBI stated that the accused were "prime conspirators" who allegedly facilitated the leakage and dissemination of the examination paper before the test was conducted on May 3, 2026. The agency further alleged that the questions were circulated in exchange for monetary consideration.
The investigating agency told the court that custodial questioning of the accused was necessary to obtain clarifications and gather further evidence regarding the larger conspiracy behind the leak.
The development comes amid an expanding probe into one of the country's most significant examination fraud cases. The CBI has so far arrested 13 individuals in connection with the matter.
The NEET-UG 2026 examination, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 3, was cancelled on May 12 following allegations that the question paper had been leaked before the examination. The controversy sparked widespread concerns over the integrity of the medical entrance examination process.
The NTA has scheduled a fresh examination for June 21.
The CBI's investigation is expected to focus on identifying the source of the leak, tracing the financial transactions allegedly involved, and uncovering the network responsible for compromising the examination process.
Legal Significance
The court's decision allowing the CBI to interrogate the accused in judicial custody marks an important step in the investigation. Such permission enables investigators to gather additional evidence while ensuring that the interrogation remains subject to judicial oversight.
The case continues to raise questions about examination security, accountability of stakeholders, and the effectiveness of mechanisms designed to prevent large-scale academic fraud.
