New Delhi, 14 October (H.S.): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday filed a supplementary chargesheet against Sheshrao Bajrang Suryawanshi, alias Raj Suryawanshi, the 14th accused in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. Special Judge Ajay Gupta directed that the supplementary chargesheet be taken up for consideration on October 15. The court is currently hearing arguments on the framing of charges against the accused.

On October 7, the CBI had informed the court that its investigation into Suryawanshi’s alleged involvement was still in progress and that it required additional time to complete the probe. During Wednesday’s proceedings, all the accused appeared before the court through video conferencing.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had dismissed a petition filed by accused Dhananjay Lokhande challenging his arrest. The High Court had also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on him. On August 22, the Rouse Avenue Court rejected Lokhande’s application seeking a copy of his arrest memo. Subsequently, on August 14, the court had authorised the CBI to conduct further investigations into the case.

On August 12, the court took cognisance of the chargesheet filed by the CBI against 13 accused. Those named in the chargesheet are Yash Yadav, Mangilal Biwal, Dinesh Biwal, Vikas Biwal, Shubham Khairnar, Dhananjay Lokhande, Prahlad Kulkarni, Tejas Harshad Kumar, Dr Manoj Shirure, Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, Manisha Waghmare, Manisha Mandhare and Manisha Sanjay Havaldar.

The CBI registered the case under Sections 315(5), 318(4), 61(2), 238 and 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS); Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act; and Sections 10, 3, 4, 5 and 11 of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act.

During an earlier hearing on the chargesheet, the CBI informed the court that the First Information Report (FIR) had been registered on May 12. The agency launched its investigation immediately, deploying 72 officers and eight cyber-forensic experts to examine the case.

As part of the investigation, the CBI conducted raids at 92 locations across Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi and other states. The first arrest in connection with the case was made on May 13.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar