Court Remands Two in NEET Exam Leak, Unravels Widespread Conspiracy

A Rouse Avenue court has granted 10 days of custody for Manisha Waghmare and Prahalad Kulkarni in a major NEET exam paper leak case. The court acknowledged a larger conspiracy, implicating multiple individuals, as the CBI intensifies its investigation to uncover the depths of the criminal network involved.

A Rouse Avenue court has ordered a 10-day CBI custody for Manisha Waghmare and Prahalad Kulkarni in connection with the NEET UG exam paper leak. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) claims that both individuals were instrumental in the conspiracy to obtain and distribute the leaked papers with alleged involvement from public servants of the National Testing Agency (NTA).

Kulkarni, a retired chemistry teacher, allegedly collaborated with Waghmare through intermediaries. The duo is suspected of being part of an organized network that saw the NEET UG 2026 exam questions distributed before the scheduled date of April 27. The CBI accuses Waghmare of providing the leaked papers to multiple individuals, including one Dhananjay, in exchange for money.

Special CBI Judge Ajay Gupta acknowledged the presence of a significant conspiracy, stating the need for extended custody to identify and apprehend other unknown members of the syndicate. This includes taking Waghmare and Kulkarni to Pune, Maharashtra, as part of efforts to investigate further. Meanwhile, the prosecutor has highlighted alleged monetary transactions and digital evidence supporting deeper financial and operational links within the conspiracy.