A Delhi court on Saturday addressed custody and bail proceedings for three accused individuals in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. The court sent one accused to jail, granted police custody for another, and issued notice on a bail application filed by a third accused.
Details of the Accused and Court Proceedings
The three accused—Manisha Mandhare, Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, and Manisha Waghmare—were presented before Special CBI Judge Ajay Gupta. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sought further custody of Mandhare, arguing that she needed to be confronted with other accused persons and students. The agency claimed that Mandhare, in conspiracy with other accused, retained the exam paper and distributed it for monetary gain. After hearing the submissions, the court remanded Mandhare to 14-day judicial custody.
Police Custody for Havaldar
For Havaldar, the CBI requested a two-day extension of custody. The agency alleged that Havaldar was empanelled as a physics translator by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and, in conspiracy with other accused, unauthorisedly retained and distributed the NEET-UG paper for financial considerations. The court granted the CBI's request, allowing police custody for further investigation.
Bail Plea on Medical Grounds
The third accused, Waghmare, filed a bail application citing medical grounds. The court issued a notice to the CBI, seeking its response, and scheduled the next hearing for June 5. The court will consider the bail plea after reviewing the CBI's reply.
The case involves a significant breach of the NEET-UG examination integrity, with allegations of a paper leak and distribution for profit. The investigation continues as authorities work to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy.
