Education – Delhi Court Rejects Bail Plea in NEET-UG 2026 Leak Probe
Education – A Delhi court on Tuesday refused to grant bail to Manisha Waghmare, one of the accused individuals in the ongoing investigation into the alleged NEET-UG 2026 question paper leak. The case is being examined by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has alleged the existence of a network involved in leaking examination content ahead of the medical entrance test.
Court Declines Bail After Hearing Both Sides
The decision was delivered by the Rouse Avenue Court after detailed submissions from both the defence and the investigating agency. During the proceedings, Waghmare’s legal team maintained that she is a qualified education counsellor who earns a legitimate income by guiding students through academic counselling services.
The defence also challenged the agency’s claims regarding financial transactions linked to the case. According to her counsel, approximately Rs 3.5 lakh deposited into her bank account originated from a gift deed connected to ancestral property and had no relation to any unlawful activity.
Defence Questions Evidence Against Accused
Waghmare’s lawyer further informed the court that investigators had searched her residence twice during the course of the inquiry. However, no cash, documents, electronic records, or other materials allegedly connecting her to the paper leak operation were recovered during those searches.
The defence argued that the absence of direct evidence weakened the allegations made against her and justified the grant of bail while the investigation continues.
CBI Alleges Active Participation in Leak Network
Opposing the request, the CBI told the court that Waghmare’s role extended beyond educational counselling. Investigators claimed she also operated a beauty parlour and allegedly participated in facilitating access to leaked examination questions for candidates in exchange for money.
According to the agency, statements recorded from several students suggest that payments were made to obtain access to questions before the examination. The CBI contended that these accounts indicate her involvement in the broader leak network under investigation.
After reviewing the arguments presented by both sides, the court dismissed the bail application.
Investigation Linked to Cancelled Medical Entrance Exam
The case stems from allegations that the NEET-UG 2026 examination paper was leaked before the test was conducted. Following complaints regarding the integrity of the examination process, the CBI registered a First Information Report (FIR) on May 12 based on a complaint submitted by the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education.
Investigators have alleged that Waghmare acted as an intermediary, helping connect students to specialised coaching sessions where questions believed to have appeared in the examination were discussed in advance. The agency claims that candidates paid substantial amounts to attend these sessions.
Alleged Links to Key Suspects
According to the CBI, Pune-based consultant Waghmare facilitated the participation of aspiring candidates in coaching classes reportedly conducted by Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a senior Botany teacher appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Investigators suspect Mandhare played a significant role in the alleged Biology paper leak.
The agency has also identified Chemistry professor P.V. Kulkarni as the alleged central figure behind the wider examination leak operation.
Re-Examination Scheduled Later This Month
Meanwhile, the NTA is preparing to conduct the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination on June 21. Admit cards are expected to be released by June 14. The original examination was cancelled after allegations emerged that confidential question papers had been compromised.
Earlier, the Supreme Court declined to direct the NTA to hold the fresh examination in a computer-based format. A bench comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Aravind Kumar observed that such intervention was not appropriate at a stage when preparations for the re-test were already underway. The matter will be considered again in July alongside petitions seeking broader reforms in the functioning of the NTA. As of now, the re-examination will proceed using the existing pen-and-paper system.