NEET Paper Leak: Delhi Court Permits CBI to Interrogate Three Prime Conspirators
A Delhi court has authorized the CBI to interrogate three prime conspirators in the NEET-UG paper leak case. As the investigation into the May 3 exam irregularities continues, a re-examination for medical aspirants is confirmed for June 21.
Highlights
- •A Delhi court permitted the CBI to interrogate three key suspects identified as primary conspirators in the NEET-UG paper leak.
- •The suspects, Manisha Sanjay Waghmare, Dhanunjay Nivrutti Lokhande, and Shubham Madhukar Khairnar, will be questioned between June 17 and June 19.
- •The CBI investigation into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak has led to the arrest of 13 individuals who are all currently in judicial custody.
- •Following the cancellation of the May 3 NEET-UG exam, a re-examination is scheduled to be conducted on June 21.
A judicial authority in New Delhi has officially granted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) permission to conduct interrogations of three individuals currently held in judicial custody. This development is part of the ongoing investigation into the high-profile NEET paper leak case, which has caused significant national concern regarding the integrity of medical entrance examinations. The court determined that these three suspects are central figures in the alleged conspiracy.
Duty Judge Surender Mohit Singh presided over the session where the investigative agency submitted its formal request. The CBI argued that the three suspects—Manisha Sanjay Waghmare, Dhanunjay Nivrutti Lokhande, and Shubham Madhukar Khairnar—are identified as primary conspirators. According to the investigation, these individuals allegedly played a critical role in facilitating the unauthorized dissemination and leakage of the NEET-UG 2026 question papers. These illicit activities reportedly took place in exchange for monetary compensation prior to the scheduled examination date of May 3.
Legal Proceedings and Investigation Updates
The investigative team sought authorization to question these specific suspects to obtain necessary clarifications that are vital for the advancement of the NEET paper leak probe. Official records indicate that Dhanunjay Nivrutti Lokhande and Shubham Madhukar Khairnar were taken into custody on May 13, while Manisha Sanjay Waghmare was arrested shortly thereafter on May 14. All three have since been held under judicial remand.
In accordance with the court’s recent ruling, the CBI has established a schedule for the interrogations: Manisha Sanjay Waghmare is slated to be questioned on June 17, followed by Dhanunjay Nivrutti Lokhande on June 18, and Shubham Madhukar Khairnar on June 19. Meanwhile, the legal proceedings continue for several other suspects involved in the case. During the latest hearing, which was conducted via videoconferencing, the court extended the judicial custody for Yash Yadav, Mangilal Khatik, Vikash Biwal, Dinesh Biwal, Manoj Shirure, and Tejas Shah, alongside those granted for questioning.
The broader impact of the NEET paper leak scandal has been substantial, prompting the National Testing Agency (NTA) to officially cancel the original NEET-UG examination held on May 3. Following widespread allegations and administrative review, a fresh examination has been organized and is currently scheduled for June 21 to ensure a fair testing process for all aspiring medical students. To date, the CBI has apprehended a total of 13 individuals linked to the conspiracy, all of whom currently remain in judicial custody as the legal investigation proceeds.
