NEET paper leak: Court extends Hawaldar’s CBI custody by two days; sends Mandhare to judicial custody
Arrest of accused Manisha Mandhare and Manisha Sanjay Hawaldar produced before Rouse Avenue court in connection with NEET-UG paper leak case in New Delhi May 30, 2026 | Photo credit: ANI
A Delhi court on Saturday (May 30, 2026) extended the CBI custody of accused Manisha Sanjay Hawaldar by two more days and sent another accused, Manisha Mandhare, to judicial custody in the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case.
Special Judge Ajay Gupta heard the agency’s request to interrogate both the accused and granted the plea.
Special public prosecutor VK Pathak, seeking an extension of Hawaldar’s remand, said she was promoted by the National Testing Authority (NTA) as a physics translator and allegedly conspired with other accused persons to illegally withhold and distribute the NEET-UG examination paper for monetary consideration.
He said in court that her custodial interrogation was necessary to identify other accused persons allegedly involved in the conspiracy and to further investigate the case.
Hawaldar’s lawyer opposed the claim, saying she was arrested on May 22 and was cooperating with the investigation. He argued that there was no need for further police custody and asked for her to be remanded in judicial custody.
However, the court upheld the CBI plea and extended Hawaldar’s remand by two days.
Distributed paper for money
In the Mandhare case, the CBI said it had to confront other accused persons and students allegedly linked to the case. The agency alleged that Mandhare, in a conspiracy with other accused, kept the exam paper and distributed it for money.
After hearing the submissions, the court sent Mandhare to 14-day judicial custody.
Meanwhile, the court also issued a CBI notice on a bail application filed by another accused, Manisha Waghmare, who sought relief on medical grounds citing illness.
The court directed the agency to file its reply and posted the matter for hearing on June 5.
The case is part of a wider CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG investigation and the alleged paper leak network.
The CBI has so far arrested 13 people in connection with the matter.
Special coaching courses
According to the CBI, PV Kulkarni, a chemistry lecturer in Pune and the alleged ringleader, was involved in the NEET process on behalf of the NTA and had access to the question papers.
The agency had earlier said that during the last week of April, Kulkarni mobilized students with the help of Manisha Waghmare and conducted special coaching classes for them at his home in Pune.
The CBI had earlier arrested Dr Manoj Shirure and Physics teacher Tejas Harshadkumar Shah. Both were sent to police custody until June 1.
Manisha Sanjay Havaldar was the 11th person arrested in the case.
The other accused were identified as Shubham Khairnar, the first arrested from Nashik, Mangilal Khatik, Vikas and Dinesh Biwal, all three arrested from Jaipur, Yash Yadav, arrested from Gurugram, and Dhananjay Lokhande, arrested from Ahilyanagar in Maharashtra.
On May 16, the CBI arrested biology lecturer Manisha Mandhare, who was part of the NTA document preparation committee.
On May 12, the NTA canceled the National Eligibility Test (Undergraduate) or NEET, which was held on May 3 for medical admissions due to allegations of a paper leak. The retrial is scheduled for June 21.
Published – 30 May 2026 22:30 IST