New Delhi, July 24: The Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi rejected the bail application of Manoj Shirure, who was arrested in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has highlighted Shirure’s significant role in the scandal.
Special Judge Ajay Gupta dismissed the bail plea after hearing arguments from both sides and reviewing the evidence presented.
The CBI alleges that Shirure played a crucial role in providing chemistry questions to three students, one of whom is the son of a coaching center operator. According to the investigation agency, Shirure assisted accused P.V. Kulkarni in supplying these questions to the students.
So far, the CBI has arrested 13 individuals and is investigating an alleged network involved in obtaining and distributing the NEET-UG question paper before the exam. The case was registered on May 12, based on a written complaint received from the Higher Education Department under the Ministry of Education.
The agency claims that Pune-based education consultant Manisha Waghmare acted as an intermediary, gathering students who paid substantial amounts to attend special coaching sessions. These sessions discussed and prepared the questions that later appeared in the NEET-UG 2026 examination.
Waghmare organized special coaching classes for candidates taught by senior botany teacher Manisha Mandhare, who is suspected of being a key conspirator in the biology paper leak case. Chemistry professor P.V. Kulkarni is believed to be the alleged kingpin of the paper leak network.
Tejas Harshad Shah, a physics teacher at a Pune academy, is accused of receiving leaked physics questions from co-accused Manisha Sanjay Hawaldar.
Following the FIR, special teams were formed, and searches were conducted across various locations in the country. Amid concerns over alleged irregularities, the National Testing Agency (NTA) successfully conducted a re-examination of NEET-UG on June 21 after the original exam was canceled.
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