Two suspects in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case appeared before the Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi on Saturday, May 16 [1].
The court appearance marks a critical step in the Central Bureau of Investigation's effort to dismantle the network responsible for compromising one of India's most competitive medical entrance exams. The leak led to the cancellation of the original test and disrupted the academic timeline for thousands of students.
Manisha Waghmare and PV Kulkarni were the two individuals produced before the court [4]. Following a request from the CBI, the court reserved an order for a 14-day custody period for both accused [1], [2].
Investigators are focusing on the roles of these individuals in the distribution of the leaked question papers. The CBI said the leak was traced back to an insider at the National Testing Agency [3]. The investigation is currently examining a potential link to Pune, where the operation allegedly coordinated the leak [2].
This legal proceeding follows the massive fallout from the security breach. Due to the leak and subsequent cancellation, the rescheduled NEET-UG exam is now set for June 21, 2026 [3].
The CBI is utilizing the custody period to interrogate the suspects and uncover further accomplices. The agency aims to determine the full extent of the conspiracy, and identify all parties who profited from the illicit sale of exam materials [2], [3].
“The court reserved an order for a 14-day custody period for both accused.”
The detention of Waghmare and Kulkarni suggests the CBI is moving from identifying suspects to extracting actionable intelligence about the systemic failures at the National Testing Agency. By securing 14 days of custody, investigators can conduct deeper interrogations to map the financial trail and the 'Pune link,' which may reveal a broader organized crime ring specializing in academic fraud.
