New Delhi, June 9: A Delhi court on Monday rejected the bail application of Manisha Waghmare, one of the accused in the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. The order was passed by the Rouse Avenue Court, while the detailed judgment is yet to be made available.
Waghmare was arrested in connection with the alleged leak of the NEET-UG examination paper. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the case, strongly opposed her bail plea, claiming that she played a key role in the conspiracy by procuring the leaked question paper and distributing it to others in exchange for money.
The court had reserved its decision on June 5 after hearing arguments from both sides. Advocate Shreyas Gacche, appearing for Waghmare, argued that she worked as an educational consultant who connected students with teachers and earned commissions for such referrals. The defence also pointed out that investigators had not sought further custodial interrogation and that no incriminating material or cash was recovered during a two-day search of her residence.
Seeking relief on medical grounds, the defence informed the court that Waghmare suffers from vertigo and had recently been hospitalised. However, the court advised her counsel to file a separate application regarding her medical condition, noting that adequate treatment facilities were available at the jail hospital.
Opposing the plea, the CBI told the court that it had collected multiple statements and banking transaction records linked to the alleged paper leak racket. The agency further claimed that several students had stated they paid money to obtain the leaked examination paper.
Earlier, on May 30, the court had issued notice to the CBI after Waghmare moved the bail application through advocates Shreyas Gacche and Shubham Gawande.
According to the CBI, Waghmare and co-accused Prahalad Kulkarni were involved in a larger conspiracy to secure and circulate the leaked NEET-UG question paper. Investigators alleged that Kulkarni, a retired chemistry teacher, maintained contact with Waghmare through another accused, Manisha Mandhare, and that the leaked paper was subsequently distributed through Waghmare to multiple individuals.
The agency further alleged that Waghmare shared the leaked paper with Pune resident Dhananjay Lokhande and remained in touch with him during the operation. The CBI has maintained that custodial interrogation of the accused was necessary to uncover the wider network involved in the leak and to identify locations where the examination questions were allegedly disclosed to select candidates before the test.
The defence had earlier challenged Waghmare’s arrest, alleging that she was unlawfully detained by Pune Police at the CBI’s direction. Her counsel also argued that the case against her was based primarily on the disclosure statement of another accused, Dhananjay Lokhande, without independent corroborative evidence.
As per the CBI’s investigation, Lokhande allegedly received the NEET-UG 2026 examination material from Waghmare and subsequently passed it on to co-accused Shubham Madhukar Khairnar, forming part of the alleged paper leak chain under investigation.
