A Delhi court has allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation to interrogate three accused lodged in judicial custody in connection with the NEET-UG paper leak case. The investigation relates to allegations that examination question papers were accessed before the test and circulated to candidates in exchange for money.
Duty Judge Surender Mohit Singh accepted the CBI’s plea seeking permission to question Manisha Sanjay Waghmare, Dhananjay Nivrutti Lokhande and Shubham Madhukar Khairnar in jail. The agency has described the three accused as key conspirators in the alleged racket.
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CBI Seeks Leads on Paper Leak Chain
In its application before the court, the CBI stated that the accused allegedly obtained access to NEET-UG question papers before the examination and arranged their distribution through intermediaries. The agency said the papers were allegedly circulated to candidates in return for substantial payments.
The CBI argued that interrogation was necessary to establish the sequence of events, identify the wider network and determine how the question papers were obtained and distributed. The court accepted the agency’s submission and granted permission for questioning inside jail.
Investigators are examining whether the alleged racket involved links at multiple levels, including examination centres, digital platforms and local intermediaries. The agency is also looking into communication channels allegedly used for circulation of the papers.
13 Arrested as Probe Expands
The case surfaced after allegations emerged following the NEET-UG examination held on May 3. Preliminary findings suggested irregularities, after which the National Testing Agency cancelled the exam on May 12.
A fresh examination has been scheduled for June 21. The development has affected a large number of medical aspirants and placed examination security under renewed scrutiny.
The CBI has so far arrested 13 people in connection with the case. Officials suspect that the matter may involve a broader organised network rather than isolated individuals.
Digital and Financial Trails Under Scrutiny
According to investigators, leaked question papers were allegedly supplied to a limited number of candidates for money. Intermediaries are suspected to have played a role in both transactions and distribution.
The agency is examining digital payment trails, mobile data records and suspicious call logs to trace the full scope of the alleged network. Officials have indicated that further arrests may follow as the investigation progresses.
The CBI told the court that interrogation of the accused could provide important leads on how the papers were leaked, how widely they were circulated and who else may have been involved. The agency is expected to submit a detailed report on the alleged network after completing its investigation.
