NEET UG Paper Leak: CBI Court Reserves Order on Framing Charges
A CBI court has reserved its order on framing charges against 14 accused in the NEET UG paper leak case. Decision expected on November 18.
The Rouse Avenue court has reserved its order regarding the framing of charges in the high-profile NEET UG paper leak case. Following detailed submissions from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the legal counsel for the accused, Special CBI Judge Ajay Gupta has scheduled the pronouncement of the order for November 18.
The Legal Timeline and Accused
The CBI is currently pursuing cases against 14 individuals involved in the alleged conspiracy. The legal process began in earnest when the agency registered the case in May 2026 to probe the leak of the undergraduate medical entrance examination papers.
The progression of the filings is as follows:
- July: The CBI filed the primary charge sheet naming 13 accused persons.
- August 2026: The court officially took cognisance of the main charge sheet.
- September 2: The arrest of the 14th accused, Sheshrao Bajrang Suryavanshi, led to the filing of a supplementary charge sheet.
The Role of Sheshrao Bajrang Suryavanshi
Much of the recent court proceedings focused on the role of Sheshrao Bajrang Suryavanshi, a resident of Pune, Maharashtra. According to the CBI, Suryavanshi acted as a key operative in the conspiracy, maintaining a close association with another accused, Shubham Khairnar.
The investigation revealed a calculated operation to compromise the integrity of the exam. The CBI alleges that Suryavanshi:
- Arranged the leaked NEET UG 2026 questions for various candidates before the actual examination took place.
- Collected significant sums of money from the candidates and their families.
- Operated out of a house in Nanded, where candidates were brought to receive the leaked materials.
- Seized the original educational certificates and documents of the candidates to serve as surety, ensuring that payments were made.
The Full List of Accused
Aside from Suryavanshi, the CBI has named 13 other individuals in the main charge sheet. These include:
- Shubham Khairnar
- Manisha Mandhare
- Manisha Sanjay Hawaldar
- Manisha Waghmare
- Prahalad Kulkarni
- Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar
- Dr. Manoj Shirure
- Tejas Harshad Shah
- Dhananjay Lokhande
- Yash Yadav
- Mangilal Biwal
- Dinesh Biwal
- Vikas Biwal
During the proceedings, Senior Public Prosecutor V K Pathak represented the CBI. The agency has emphasized that the investigation into the arrested individuals and their associates remains at a "crucial stage," suggesting that further revelations may emerge as the case progresses toward trial.