A Delhi court on Monday sent Renukai Career Centre founder Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar to nine days of CBI custody in the NEET paper leak case.

The order came after the Central Bureau of Investigation sought 10 days of custody for his interrogation. Special CBI judge Ajay Gupta allowed nine days instead.

Motegaonkar was arrested on Sunday evening in Latur. The CBI told the court that a leaked question paper from the May 3 examination was recovered from his personal mobile phone during searches.

The agency has alleged that he was part of an organised group involved in the leak and circulation of the NEET UG paper. It also claimed he played a key role through his coaching centre.

According to the CBI, Motegaonkar received the question paper and answers on April 23. That was nearly 10 days before the examination was held.

The agency said the paper was then supplied to several people. It also alleged that copies of leaked question papers and answer sheets were shared as handwritten notes.

Those handwritten notes were later destroyed after the examination, the CBI said before the court. The agency also claimed that the paper reached a large number of students through Motegaonkar.

The investigation is now looking at his alleged links with Prahlad Vithalrao Kulkarni, described by the agency as the suspected kingpin in the case.

The CBI had earlier arrested chemistry lecturer P V Kulkarni and biology lecturer Manisha Mandhare. The agency said both knew each other through Manisha Waghmare, who is also in CBI custody.

Investigators have alleged that the two lecturers brought in Waghmare to arrange NEET aspirants for special sessions before the exam.

Motegaonkar’s counsel opposed the custody request. He told the court that his client had been teaching since 1999 and that all relevant material had already been seized.

The court still allowed custodial interrogation, giving the CBI nine days to question him. The order keeps the focus on how the paper allegedly moved from one person to another before exam day.

For students and families, the case cuts into something basic. An entrance exam only works when everyone believes the paper was clean.