The Rouse Avenue court in New Delhi has granted a seven-day custody of five individuals arrested in connection with the NEET UG paper leak case. On Thursday, May 12, 2026, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) presented the accused—Mangilal Biwal, Dinesh Biwal, Vikas Biwal, Shubham Khairnar, and Yash Yadav—before Special Judge Ajay Gupta. The court subsequently issued a remand for all five accused to be held in custody for further investigation.

While granting the CBI’s custody request, Judge Gupta stated that Dinesh Biwal, who is the brother of Mangilal Biwal and a relative of Yash Yadav, allegedly played a significant role in distributing the NEET question paper in collaboration with the other co-accused. The court noted indications of a broader conspiracy and acknowledged that the investigation was in its early stages.

Allegations

The CBI has sought custody of the accused to uncover the full extent of the alleged conspiracy surrounding the paper leak. The investigation aims to apprehend all active participants involved in what has been described as an organised paper leak ring, as well as to recover relevant evidence. The court expressed concern that several accused individuals had reportedly deleted incriminating material from their mobile phones. To mitigate the risk of evidence tampering, the CBI’s request for police custody was deemed justified by the court.

As part of the proceedings, the court mandated that the accused be produced again on May 20, 2026. The CBI’s argument included claims that the involvement of public servants in this case necessitated further investigation, particularly because the NEET examination is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The CBI Prosecutor indicated that the arrests of the accused took place in various locations: Mangilal, Dinesh, and Vikas Biwal were apprehended in Jaipur, Shubham Khairnar was captured in Nashik, Maharashtra, while Yash Yadav was located in Gurugram. A transit remand was reportedly obtained from the relevant judicial authority.

Background of the Case

An FIR concerning the case was filed on May 12, 2026, by a government official, alleging violations under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Prevention of Corruption Act, and related offences connected to examination malpractices. The CBI claims that Mangilal Biwal engaged Shubham Khairnar through Yash Yadav to procure the NEET question paper for his son, Vikas Biwal. Evidence of the leaked papers was found on Mangilal Biwal’s mobile phone.

According to the CBI, a transaction was completed between Mangilal and Yash Yadav for Rs. 10 lakh, involving the distribution of the leaked NEET UG paper. During interrogations, Vikas Biwal established that he met Yash Yadav during a coaching session, further implicating family connections in this alleged scheme. The CBI highlighted that Dinesh Biwal is the brother of Vikas Biwal, adding to the complexity of the case.

The legal counsel for the accused challenged the legality of the arrests, alleging fears of coercion and claiming that the process was unlawful. Nonetheless, the CBI maintains that a wider conspiracy involving several key players exists and emphasises the importance of custodial remand to analyse the evidence retrieved from mobile devices thoroughly. The prosecution asserts that the trajectory of the case is indicative of an extensive network orchestrating the paper leak.

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