The Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi has remanded five individuals to judicial custody following their interrogation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) concerning the NEET-UG paper leak case. This decision, taken on May 20, allows the five accused to remain in custody until June 2.

Judge Ajay Gupta presided over the case, which included the defendants Mangilal Biwal, Vikas Biwal, Dinesh Biwal, Yash Yadav and Dhananjay Lokhande. The court also extended the remand of Shubham Khairnar by five days to facilitate further investigations.

The CBI has alleged that Khairnar sourced the examination paper from within the National Testing Agency (NTA) and distributed it amongst other individuals. This extension aims to allow the CBI to delve deeper into the broader conspiracy linked to the case.

Charges and Allegations Against the Accused

The CBI’s inquiry has revealed a complex web of connections regarding the distribution of the leaked question paper. It was reportedly Khairnar who first leaked the document to Yash Yadav, who subsequently passed it on to Mangilal Biwal, followed by Vikas and Dinesh Biwal.

During the hearing, Deputy SP Pawan Kumar Kaushik, the investigating officer, underscored the need for Khairnar’s custodial interrogation to further investigate this alleged conspiracy. The prosecutors informed the court that other individuals involved in the distribution of the leaked paper had yet to be identified.

The agency claims that among the revelations from the investigation, Mangilal Biwal had received the leaked paper from Yash Yadav for Rs 10 lakh, while he reportedly sold it to several candidates for Rs 12 lakh.

Additional Arrests and Ongoing Investigations

The CBI also apprehended a total of four other individuals in connection with the case, which include chemistry expert Prahlad Vithalrao Kulkarni and teacher Manish Mandhare. These individuals remain in custody as the investigation continues.

The agency has also sought specimen signatures from another accused, Manisha Mandhare, as part of their ongoing efforts to gather crucial evidence. Furthermore, defence counsel has filed an application requesting the preservation of CCTV footage relevant to the case.

While the court proceedings progress, the CBI has highlighted the urgent need for further investigation into potential involvement by public servants, given that the NEET examination is governed by NTA protocols. The complexity of this case suggests that additional arrests may still be on the horizon, should new evidence come to light.

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