The Rouse Avenue court has granted nine days of custody to the CBI for Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, who was taken into custody in Pune regarding the NEET UG Paper leak case. The court’s decision came on May 18, 2026, after the CBI claimed that Motegaonkar is intricately involved in the conspiracy to leak the chemistry paper prior to the NEET UG examination.

Special CBI Judge Ajay Gupta approved the request for custody, although the CBI initially sought a 10-day remand. The court expressed that Motegaonkar’s custody was necessary to identify and apprehend other co-accused individuals, as well as to recover essential digital evidence related to the case.

The judge highlighted that the ongoing investigation is in its critical early stages, necessitating the accused’s remand for thorough custodial interrogation. It was mandated that Motegaonkar undergo a medical examination before being remanded.

Investigation and Allegations Against Motegaonkar

The CBI alleges that Shivraj Motegaonkar was already linked to the leak of the chemistry exam paper and its distribution among students. The accused operates an RCC Institute of Coaching in Latur, Maharashtra, and is reportedly tied to another accused, Prahalad Kulkarni, with ongoing investigations to uncover their connections further.

According to the CBI, Motegaonkar received the chemistry questions and answers on April 23, 2026, prior to the examination scheduled for May 3, 2026. The leaked material was allegedly located on his mobile phone, further implicating him in the crime.

Additionally, footage suggests that the accused has made statements affirming that the materials he shared with students were indeed part of the question paper. The allegations point to an organised network involved in the illegal distribution of examination papers.

Objectives of the CBI’s Custodial Request

The CBI’s request for remand is aimed at conducting effective custodial interrogation and potentially enabling cross-country investigations. Senior Public Prosecutors Neetu Singh and V K Pathak represented the CBI and argued for the necessity of custody to uncover the financial trails and digital evidence linked to the case.

They also asserted that the custody would help ensure the prevention of further similar offences by dismantling the larger conspiracy behind the NEET UG 2026 paper leak. The court acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations, noting the involvement of an organised group allegedly responsible for leaking exam papers well in advance of the exam date.

The CBI has indicated that they are actively pursuing connections between Motegaonkar and other individuals, with the ultimate goal of dismantling the network involved in these illegal activities. The potential of discovering additional co-accused has been highlighted as a key reason for the remand.

Next Steps and Court Appearance

Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar is scheduled to be presented again in court on May 26, 2026. The ongoing investigation aims to thoroughly explore the depth of the criminal activities and gather sufficient evidence against all suspects involved.

The court’s decision marks a crucial step in addressing the alarming issue of examination fraud, which has raised concerns over the integrity of educational assessments. The CBI continues to pursue all leads to ensure that the culpable parties are brought to justice.

Central to this investigation are the various digital devices and communication records that are believed to contain evidence relevant to the leak. The outcomes of this case could have significant implications for future examination integrity in India.

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