New Delhi, May 20: A Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday remanded five accused to judicial custody following their interrogation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the NEET-UG paper leak case. The court also extended the CBI custody of the accused, Shubham Khairnar, by five days.
Special CBI Judge Ajay Gupta directed that Mangilal Biwal, Vikas Biwal, Dinesh Biwal, Yash Yadav, and Dhananjay Lokhande remain in judicial custody until June 2.
The CBI has alleged that Shubham Khairnar obtained the NEET exam paper through a source within the National Testing Agency (NTA). The agency requested additional custody for Khairnar to investigate the broader conspiracy and confront him with electronic evidence. The CBI also stated that he would need to be taken to Maharashtra for further inquiries. It is alleged that Khairnar distributed the leaked exam paper to multiple individuals.
After their custody period expired, the CBI produced Mangilal Biwal, Dinesh Biwal, Vikas Biwal, Shubham Khairnar, Yash Yadav, and Dhananjay Lokhande before the court. Investigating Officer and Deputy SP Pawan Kumar Kaushik filed applications seeking judicial custody for the accused and an extension of Khairnar’s CBI custody.
Senior Public Prosecutors Neetu Singh and VK Pathak, representing the CBI, emphasized that the custodial interrogation of Khairnar was necessary to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy and identify others involved in the paper leak. Advocates AP Singh represented Mangilal, Vikas, and Dinesh Biwal, while Kapil Yadav and Ambika appeared for Yash Yadav, and Vikram represented Dhananjay Lokhande.
Additionally, the CBI filed an application seeking the specimen signatures of the accused, Manisha Mandhare, while the defense requested the preservation of CCTV footage. Both applications are pending.
Earlier, the CBI had stated that custodial interrogation was essential to investigate the involvement of public officials, as the NEET exam was conducted by the NTA. The accused were arrested from various locations, including Jaipur in Rajasthan and Nashik in Maharashtra.
The agency alleged that Mangilal Biwal approached Khairnar to obtain the NEET question paper for Vikas Biwal, and leaked papers were reportedly found on Mangilal’s mobile phone. It was further alleged that Mangilal obtained the paper from Yash Yadav for Rs 10 lakh. During questioning, Vikas Biwal claimed he came into contact with Yash Yadav through coaching classes. Dinesh Biwal is reportedly Vikas Biwal’s cousin.
According to the CBI, the sequence of the leak involved Shubham Khairnar first passing the paper to Yash Yadav, who then gave it to Mangilal Biwal, followed by Vikas and Dinesh Biwal. Mangilal is also accused of selling the leaked paper to multiple candidates for Rs 12 lakh.
In addition, four other accused—Manisha Waghmare, chemistry expert Prahlad Vithalrao Kulkarni, and teacher Manish Mandhare—have been arrested and remain in CBI custody.
