Court Extends Custody of Key Suspect in NEET-UG Paper Leak Scandal

The Rouse Avenue court extended the police custody of Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar for his involvement in the NEET-UG paper leak case. The CBI seeks further custody for confrontation and recovery. Motegaonkar's active role in the chemistry paper leak before the NEET-UG Exam 2026 is under investigation.

The Rouse Avenue court on Tuesday prolonged the police custody of Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, a crucial figure in the NEET-UG paper leak case, by an additional day. Special Judge (CBI) Ajay Gupta approved the extension following the submissions made by CBI Public Prosecutor Neetu Singh, highlighting the necessity for further confrontation and recovery operations.

Originally arrested in Pune, Motegaonkar was in direct contact with co-accused Prahlad Kulkarni. The CBI stressed the need for further custodial interrogation to unearth the network behind the chemistry paper leak prior to the 2026 NEET-UG exam. The investigation aims to identify other conspirators, recover digital devices, and analyze financial transactions involved in the scandal.

The court acknowledged the accusations against Motegaonkar, who runs a coaching center in Latur, Maharashtra. Allegedly, he leaked the exam questions, distributing them to students before the scheduled date. Video evidence supports claims of his involvement, and investigators assert the need for continued efforts to prevent similar future offenses and to dismantle the organized network behind the leak.