CBI seeks 14-day custody in NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case as probe widens

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday asked for 14 days’ custody of the accused in the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. The agency told a Delhi court that the investigation is spreading to many states, so the accused may need to be taken outside the national capital for further questioning.

The CBI also said that accused Dhananjay Nivrutti Lokhande was in regular contact with another arrested suspect, Manisha Waghamare. Investigators believe that Dhananjay collected some confidential material from her, which was then passed on to another accused, Shubham Khairnar, as part of the alleged paper leak network.

Also Read | NEET UG 2026 paper leak case: CBI arrests second alleged mastermind Manisha Mandhare

Who are the key accused detained by the CBI

As per News18 reports, the CBI also informed the court that Prahlad Vitthal Kulkarni, identified as a “subject expert” linked to setting the 2026 NEET-UG paper, is under investigation. The NEET-UG 2026 exam was cancelled after allegations that the question paper was leaked and circulated across multiple states. According to investigators, the alleged leak began in Pune, where the paper was reportedly sold to Nashik-based BAMS student Shubham Khairnar. The case was initially handled by Pune police but was later transferred to the CBI by the Centre for a wider probe.

The CBI has detained several accused from Pune to uncover the broader network behind the leak. Among them is Omkar Shingote, an Ayurvedic doctor from Pune’s Junnar area, suspected of helping students secure medical admissions illegally along with his associate Dhananjay Lokhande. Dhananjay Nivrutti Lokhande, 26, from Rahuri in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar district, was allegedly hiding after fleeing Pune and is now being questioned along with other accused to trace further links in the racket.

How is NTA connected to the accused teacher

Earlier, the CBI arrested Pune-based Botany teacher Manisha Gurunath Mandhare. The agency said she had worked in the NEET-UG process after being appointed as an expert by the National Testing Agency (NTA). According to investigators, she came in contact with NEET candidates through accused Manisha Waghamare and conducted coaching sessions for students at her residence in Pune.

As per News18 reports, investigators alleged that Mandhare shared important Botany and Zoology questions during these sessions and asked students to write them down in notebooks and textbooks. The agency further claimed that many of these questions later matched the actual NEET-UG Biology paper held on May 3.

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All about Prahlad Vitthal Kulkarni

Prahlad Vitthal Kulkarni, who has emerged as a key figure in the investigation, was earlier a chemistry lecturer at the reputed Dayanand Junior College in Latur. He had also worked on examination-related assignments for both the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE).