NEW DELHI — The Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday granted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) permission to collect additional handwriting and signature samples from Manisha Sanjay Hawaldar, a key accused in the NEET-UG paper leak case.
Special CBI Judge Ajay Gupta allowed the agency’s application after investigators argued that the original 60-page sample was insufficient for forensic analysis given the bulky nature of the evidence. According to Senior Public Prosecutor Neetu Singh, Hawaldar allegedly wrote out and shared Physics exam questions with co-accused Manisha Mandhare—images of which were recovered from Mandhare’s phone—and dictated questions to another suspect, Tejas Harshad Kumar Shah.
The court has directed the Jail Superintendent to allow CBI officials to collect fresh specimens inside the jail over a three-day period from July 27 to July 29, in the presence of an independent witness.
Defense counsel vehemently opposed the request, arguing that forcing the senior citizen accused to provide additional samples amounts to harassment and attempts to cover up gaps in the CBI’s investigation. However, the court ruled in favor of the agency following a report from forensic examiners indicating the need for further samples.
