Shillong: A Delhi court has dismissed the bail application of Manisha Waghmare, who faces charges in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak investigation. The Rouse Avenue Court ruled against the Pune-based consultant following arguments from both the defense and the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Waghmare’s legal team claimed she is a professional education counselor and argued that 3.5 lakh rupees found in her account originated from an ancestral property gift deed. The defense also noted that CBI searches of her residence yielded no incriminating evidence. In response, the CBI maintained that Waghmare acted as an intermediary by connecting students to private coaching sessions where exam questions were leaked.
The agency alleged that Waghmare facilitated students for sessions led by Botany teacher Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, who is suspected of being a co-mastermind in the Biology paper leak. The CBI further identified Chemistry professor P.V. Kulkarni as the alleged "kingpin" of the paper leak network. Investigators claim they have statements from candidates who admitted to paying for access to these leaked questions.
The NEET-UG 2026 examination was originally cancelled on May 12 after the Ministry of Education reported irregularities. While the Supreme Court recently declined to force the National Testing Agency to move the upcoming June 21 re-examination to a computer-based format, officials confirmed that the test will proceed as scheduled using the traditional pen-and-paper method.
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