NEET Paper Leak Accused Shubham Khairnar Remains in Custody Until Early June

New Delhi – A Delhi court on Tuesday ordered that Shubham Khairnar, the man named in the high‑profile NEET paper‑leak case, be kept in judicial custody till June 6. The decision came after the judge rejected Khairnar’s plea for bail, citing the seriousness of the alleged offence and the risk of tampering with evidence.

Khairnar, a 30‑year‑old software engineer, is accused of orchestrating a network that allegedly obtained the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) question paper ahead of the exam and shared it with a select group of candidates. The alleged leak, if proven true, could have compromised the fairness of an exam that millions of aspirants sit for each year.

During the hearing, the prosecution argued that Khairnar’s continued freedom could facilitate the destruction of digital footprints and the intimidation of key witnesses. The defence, on the other hand, maintained that the allegations were “baseless” and that the accused posed no flight risk. Still, the court found the prosecution’s concerns more compelling and ordered judicial custody, meaning Khairnar will be placed under the supervision of a magistrate rather than in regular prison.

Judicial custody in India is a form of pre‑trial detention where the accused is housed in a facility overseen by the court, often with less restrictive conditions than ordinary jail. It is typically employed in cases where the court believes the accused should not be free but also does not warrant harsh imprisonment at this stage.

The order also stipulated that Khairnar will appear before the court again on June 6, when the magistrate will review the case and decide whether to keep him in custody, release him on bail, or take any other appropriate action.

Authorities have said the investigation is still in its early phases and that several other suspects are being questioned. Meanwhile, the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts NEET, has promised a thorough audit of its security protocols to reassure candidates and the public that future examinations will be safe from similar breaches.