A Delhi court has ordered the judicial custody of three individuals, including a doctor from Latur and a faculty member from a Pune coaching institute, until June 15. The accused, Dr. Manoj Shirure, Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, and Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, are being investigated by the CBI in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. The Central agency initiated the case on May 12 based on a complaint from the Department of Higher Education under the Union Ministry of Education.
The CBI alleges that Dr. Manoj Shirure played a significant role in helping three students, including the son of a coaching center owner, obtain Chemistry questions before the NEET-UG 2026 examination. Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, a Physics faculty member at a Pune-based institute, is accused of receiving leaked Physics questions. The arrests are part of a broader probe into a network involved in obtaining and circulating NEET question papers prior to the exam.
The CBI has conducted searches at 49 locations nationwide, seizing incriminating documents, laptops, and mobile phones for detailed analysis. The agency is committed to a thorough and impartial investigation to uncover the full conspiracy and identify all individuals involved in the alleged malpractice. Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education is discussing issues related to NEET and the National Testing Agency, including concerns over examination processes and the ongoing NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case.
The committee is monitoring the progress of the CBI investigation and emphasizing the need to safeguard the integrity of future examinations. The NTA is set to conduct a re-examination of NEET-UG 2026 on June 21, with admit cards expected by June 14. The original examination was canceled on May 12 due to paper leak allegations, causing widespread concern among candidates and families.
