New Delhi: A special court in Delhi on Friday dismissed the bail application of paediatrician Dr. Manoj Bhagwanrao Shirure, a key accused in the NEET-UG paper leak case, observing that the alleged breach eroded public trust and brought disrepute to the nation. Special Judge Ajay Gupta of the Rouse Avenue Court rejected the plea after hearing arguments from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and defence counsel, while concurrently extending the judicial custody of all 13 accused until August 6.
During the bail proceedings, federal investigators submitted that Shirure, who runs a hospital in Latur, Maharashtra, facilitated illicit access to the leaked chemistry question paper in the third week of April, ahead of the May 3 examination. The CBI alleged that Shirure charged Rs 5 lakh from a co-accused candidate’s family—funds later recovered from his sister’s residence—and referred two other doctors to suspected kingpin P.V. Kulkarni, collecting additional payments to provide early access to the examination material.
Strongly opposing the bail plea, the central agency argued that the breach constituted a grave economic and social offense impacting millions of aspirants across the country and abroad. The agency noted that ongoing investigations involve complex digital evidence, banking channels, and multi-state networks, making pre-trial release risky for the integrity of the case. The court concurred with the prosecution’s assessment, ruling that the severity of the alleged offense outweighed the absence of prior criminal antecedents.
The National Testing Agency had previously cancelled the initial May 3 entrance examination amid widespread reports of paper leaks, prompting a national re-examination on June 21 while federal agencies continue tracing the broader conspiracy.
