New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday informed a Delhi court that Manisha Sanjay Waghmare, one of the accused in the NEET paper leak case, allegedly circulated leaked question papers to students in exchange for money.
The submissions were made before Special Judge Ajay Gupta during the hearing of Waghmare’s bail application. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court reserved its order on the plea until June 9.
Opposing the bail request, the CBI told the court that Waghmare allegedly distributed questions from the physics, chemistry and biology sections of the NEET examination to students. The agency claimed it possessed statements from students who had allegedly paid money to obtain the leaked papers.
According to the prosecution, Waghmare played a key role in circulating the examination material and acted as a link between students and the alleged masterminds behind the leak.
Seeking bail, Waghmare’s counsel argued that the 47-year-old accused, who is a certified education counsellor, had not engaged in any illegal activity. The defence maintained that investigators did not recover any cash from her premises and found no incriminating material in the two mobile phones seized during the investigation. The lawyer also cited her medical condition, including vertigo, while requesting relief.
Waghmare was arrested on May 14 and has remained in judicial custody since then.
The CBI has alleged that Waghmare, who runs a beauty parlour in Pune, received the leaked question papers from alleged kingpin P.V. Kulkarni. The agency claimed she subsequently passed them on to co-accused Dhananjay Lokhande, arrested from Ahilyanagar, as well as several other accused individuals.
Investigators further alleged that Kulkarni conducted special coaching sessions for students at his residence in Pune and mobilised candidates with Waghmare’s assistance. The agency also claimed that Waghmare destroyed the leaked papers after the examination was conducted on May 3.
So far, the CBI has arrested 13 people in connection with the case, all of whom are currently in judicial custody.
Earlier this week, the court sent three other accused — a physics lecturer empanelled by the National Testing Agency (NTA) as a translator, a paediatrician from Latur and a physics tutor — to 14 days of judicial custody.
The controversy erupted after allegations of a paper leak surfaced following the NEET-UG examination held on May 3. In response, the NTA cancelled the examination on May 12 and announced a fresh test, which is scheduled to be conducted on June 21.
