CBI Gets 6 Days Custody of NEET 2026 Leak Accused Dhananjay Lokhande

Mumbai's Rouse Avenue Court has handed the CBI six days of custody over Dhananjay Lokhande, a key accused in the sensational NEET UG 2026 paper leak case. Arrested on Thursday, Lokhande was presented in court on Friday, where prosecutors argued for extended remand to unravel the conspiracy's intricacies. The judge concurred, allowing investigators vital time to extract crucial details. With this, seven suspects are now in custody. The probe kicked off on May 12 after the Education Ministry flagged egregious violations in the May 3 exam. CBI sleuths have fanned out across the country, grilling additional persons of interest and piecing together evidence of a multi-state operation. Previously, five other arrestees received seven-day remands from the court. Officials hint at a larger racket possibly spanning several regions, fueling speculation of imminent further detentions. The leak allegations triggered the exam's cancellation, shaking the confidence of lakhs of aspirants. At the heart of the matter is a question paper that allegedly circulated before the test, undermining the merit-based selection for medical seats. The CBI's mandate is clear: identify the kingpins, expose the modus operandi, and prevent future breaches. Re-examination preparations are underway, but the shadow of doubt lingers until the culprits are fully brought to book. This episode highlights systemic flaws in exam security, urging policymakers to implement robust technological and procedural safeguards for national-level assessments.