The long-running NEET paper leak case took another turn on Thursday after Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court reserved its order on the bail plea of accused Manisha Waghmare. The court will pronounce its decision on June 9.
Waghmare has emerged as one of the key accused in the case being investigated by the CBI. According to investigators, she was allegedly involved in passing on NEET question papers and answers to candidates in exchange for money.
The agency told the court that it possesses statements from students who allegedly paid her for access to leaked exam content.
WHAT HAPPENED IN COURT?
Seeking bail, Waghmare’s lawyer argued that she is a certified education counsellor who earns through counselling services and that a bank transaction cited by the CBI was linked to an ancestral property gift deed rather than any illegal activity.
The defence also highlighted her medical condition, stating that the 47-year-old suffers from vertigo and was recently admitted to a jail hospital. Her counsel argued that no cash was recovered despite multiple CBI searches and that she would cooperate with investigators if released.
The CBI strongly opposed the plea, alleging that Waghmare shared Physics, Chemistry and Biology questions with middlemen and candidates. The agency also questioned her claim of being solely an education counsellor, noting that she also operated a beauty parlour.
BACKGROUND OF THE NEET UG 2026 PAPER LEAK CASE
The NEET UG 2026 controversy erupted after allegations that the May 3 medical entrance examination had been compromised by a question paper leak. Investigators later examined claims that a so-called “guess paper” containing hundreds of questions had circulated before the exam, with allegations that a significant number matched questions that appeared in the actual test.
Amid mounting concerns over the integrity of the examination, the National Testing Agency (NTA), with approval from the Centre, cancelled the original NEET UG 2026 examination on May 12 and announced a fresh nationwide re-examination scheduled for June 21. More than 22 lakh candidates were affected by the decision.
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