The Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi has extended the judicial custody of accused Prahalad Kulkarni and Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar till July 8, 2026, in connection with the NEET-UG paper leak case. The extension was granted after the CBI sought more time for investigation.
Vacation Judge Ruchi Agarwal Asrani presided over the hearing, where CBI Public Prosecutor Neetu Singh requested a 14-day extension of custody. The accused were produced before the court after the expiry of their earlier custody period.
The CBI has arrested multiple individuals in the NEET-UG paper leak case, including Kulkarni, Motegaonkar, Mangi Lal Biwal, Vikas Biwal, Dinesh Biwal, Yash Yadav, Shubham Khairnar, Manisha Waghmare, Dhananjay Lokhande, Manisha Mandhare, Manisha Sanjay Hawaldar, and Dr. Manoj Shirure. All remain in judicial custody following interrogation.
In related developments, the court allowed accused Yash Yadav to appear for the rescheduled NEET-UG exam on June 21 and attend his sister’s wedding on June 22 while in custody. However, the bail plea of Manisha Waghmare was rejected. Judge Vishal Gogne observed that denying Yadav the chance to sit for the exam would amount to punishment before conviction.
The case revolves around the alleged leak of the NEET-UG chemistry paper nearly 10 days before the exam. Investigators claim the paper was circulated through coaching networks and handwritten notes, with students allegedly paying lakhs of rupees for access. The May 3 NEET-UG exam was cancelled, leading to widespread protests and a re-exam held on June 21, 2026.
