'Overwhelming evidence' in NEET 2026 paper leak: Fast track Court rejects polygraph plea, takes cognizance of CBI chargesheet against 13

New Delhi: A designated fast-track court at Delhi's Rouse Avenue Courts dealing with the alleged NEET UG 2026 paper leak has made two observations in the case, rejecting a plea filed by three accused seeking polygraph and brain-mapping tests and taking cognisance of the CBI chargesheet against 13 accused.

The court said there was “overwhelming incriminating material” prima facie showing that the accused were part of a syndicate involved in leaking and circulating the NEET-UG question paper for illegal monetary gain.

The observation was made by Special Judge Ajay Gupta, who dismissed the plea moved by the three accused from the Biwal Family who had sought permission to voluntarily undergo the tests, claiming that it would help demonstrate their bona fides and assist the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in conducting a fair and transparent investigation.

At the same time, the Special Judge also took cognisance of the agency's final report against the 13 accused on Wednesday.

Court rejects plea for polygraph, brain-mapping tests

Law Beat has reported that the designated fast-track court court rejected the application by three accused, who are members of the Biwal family seeking permission to voluntarily undergo polygraph, and Brain Electrical Activation Profile (BEAP), commonly known as brain-mapping, tests.

Through their counsel, Advocate A.P. Singh, the accused had argued that they were willing to undergo the tests to establish their bona fides and assist the CBI in conducting a fair and transparent investigation.

They submitted that the right to a fair investigation and fair trial forms part of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.

However, the CBI opposed the application. Senior Public Prosecutor V.K. Pathak argued that the plea was not maintainable and also sought costs against the accused.

CBI chargesheet

Special Judge Ajay Gupta of the court took cognisance of the CBI's chargesheet against 13 accused on August 12. In the order made available on Thursday, the court said, "It is prima facie clear from the overwhelming incriminating material collected by the CBI through an extensive investigation that all the aforementioned accused persons, in one manner or the other, formed part of the NEET (UG) 2026 Exam leak syndicate and each one of them have played an active role in dissemination and circulation of the aforesaid exam question paper of all three subjects (Physics, Chemistry and Biology)."

It said that prima facie it appeared that alleged kingpin Kulkarni was fully aware that there was no practice of frisking of the subject experts at the designated place. Therefore, he took advantage of the situation and took along with him the chits or short notes prepared by him discreetly while doing the translation work for his subject (chemistry).

"Further, it is clear from the record that all these three experts (Kulkarni for chemistry, Havaldar for physics and Mandhare for biology) had given their written undertaking before they were engaged for this work that they will not share any part of the NEET (UG) 2026 exam related material with anyone in any manner,” the court said as quoted by PTI.

It said violation of the undertaking prima facie shows that these accused persons have committed the criminal breach of trust with the National Testing Agency (NTA) authority, which engaged them for translation of NEET (UG) 2026 Exam question paper of their respective subjects.

"Besides, by their aforesaid act, they have also prima facie committed criminal misconduct (by a public servant) in terms of Section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act," the court said.

It said it is also prima facie clear from the record that all these three subject experts, in active conspiracy with other co-accused persons to obtain the illegal monetary gain, sold the exam-related material (the leaked questions of their respective subjects) to the co-accused persons as well as several candidates "in the guise of providing coaching to them".

"All the other co-accused persons have also committed all these offences in active conspiracy with these subject experts. As per the charge-sheet, accused persons have also destroyed/disposed of the leaked (NEET (UG) 2026 exam material and some of them have destroyed their electronic devices also containing the relevant material," the court said.

It then took cognisance of the offences under the provisions of the PC Act, Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act provisions and Bharatiya Nayaya Sanhita (BNS) sections for criminal conspiracy, causing disappearance of evidence, criminal breach of trust by a public servant, receiving stolen property and cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property.

The National Eligibility-Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET-UG, is conducted by the NTA for medical aspirants. On May 12, the NTA cancelled the NEET-UG held on May 3 for admissions in medical courses amid allegations of paper leak. A re-examination was conducted on June 21.

Dharmendra Pradhan later resigned as education minister over the NEET paper leak row following the protests.

Also read- NEET row: PM Modi announces setting up fast-track courts to expedite paper leak trials