Court Orders 14-Day Custody for NEET Leak Suspects in Unfolding Scandal

A Delhi court has ordered 14-day judicial custody for Prahlad Vithalrao Kulkarni, suspected to be the mastermind behind the NEET paper leak, and Shivraj Raghunath. The decision extends until June 10 as the duo's police custody concludes.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended 13 individuals in relation to the case thus far. Kulkarni, a chemistry lecturer from Pune, was implicated due to his involvement with the National Testing Agency's (NTA) NEET processes, providing him access to exam contents. Allegedly, Kulkarni, along with Manisha Waghmare—who is also under arrest—arranged coaching sessions for students at his residence in late April.

Additional arrests include Doctor Manoj Shirure and physics teacher Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, previously detained until June 1. Other accused individuals such as Shubham Khairnar, Mangilal Khatik, and others face charges, with new apprehensions in Maharashtra aligning with the NTA's exam scheduling and administration.

Following these developments, the NEET conducted on May 3 was annulled amid these allegations, with a retake organized for June 21.

(With inputs from agencies.)