New Delhi, 24 July (H.S.): A Delhi court on Friday rejected the bail application of Shivraj Motegaonkar, an accused in the NEET paper leak case. The order was passed by Special Judge Ajay Gupta at the Rouse Avenue Court.

Opposing the bail plea, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) argued that Motegaonkar, the owner of RCC Classes in Latur, Maharashtra, had allegedly conspired with Professor P.V. Kulkarni, who was associated with the examination centre responsible for the NEET Chemistry question paper.

According to the CBI, Motegaonkar allegedly paid ₹5 lakh to Professor Kulkarni in exchange for the examination paper. The investigating agency further alleged that after obtaining the leaked question paper, Motegaonkar distributed it to students before the examination.

The CBI also informed the court that the leaked NEET question paper was recovered from Motegaonkar's mobile phone during the course of the investigation.

The case was registered on May 12 following a complaint filed by a government official. The CBI lodged an FIR under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The original NEET examination, conducted on May 3, was cancelled after allegations surfaced that the question paper had been leaked before the test. A re-examination was subsequently conducted on June 21 following directions from the Central government, which had entrusted the investigation to the CBI.

The CBI has so far arrested 13 accused in connection with the alleged NEET paper leak scam. The investigation is continuing to determine the full extent of the conspiracy and identify all individuals involved.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar