NEET Paper Leak Accused Allowed to Read Hanuman Chalisa and Shivaji Maharaj Biography
A special court in Delhi has granted permission to Dhananjay Nivrutti Lokhande, an accused in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, to receive devotional texts and historical literature while in judicial custody at Tihar Jail.
A Delhi court has allowed Dhananjay Nivrutti Lokhande, an accused in the NEET-UG 2026 question-paper leak case, to receive religious and historical books while in judicial custody at Tihar Jail. Lokhande had sought copies of the Hanuman Chalisa, Mangal Stotra and ‘Shrimaan Yogi’, a biographical novel based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The court permitted the request subject to jail rules and security checks, Organiser reported.
Delhi Court Allows Books Subject To Jail Rules
The order was passed by Special Judge Ajay Gupta at the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi on September 1. Lokhande approached the court through his lawyer, seeking permission to receive the books from his family members or authorised counsel while he remains in custody. The court directed the concerned jail authorities to provide the requested material, subject to security clearance and the applicable Jail Manual rules. NEET-UG Paper Leak Protests: Centre Moves Supreme Court to Quash FIRs Against Student Protesters.
Books Dhananjay Nivrutti Lokhande Asked For
The application sought three types of reading material. The first was the Hanuman Chalisa, a widely recited Hindu devotional text. He also requested the Mangal Stotra, another religious text.
The third was ‘Shrimaan Yogi’, a Marathi biographical novel by writer Ranjeet Desai about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The books can be supplied by Lokhande’s family or authorised counsel, but they must first undergo the required security checks. NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak: CBI Says WhatsApp, Telegram Used to Circulate Encrypted Question Papers.
CBI’s Allegations Against Dhananjay Nivrutti Lokhande
Lokhande is currently lodged in Tihar Jail following his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 paper-leak investigation.
According to the CBI's case, Lokhande was an important link in the alleged chain through which the leaked examination paper was moved from Maharashtra to other states, including Haryana and Rajasthan. The allegations remain subject to judicial proceedings, and Lokhande has not been convicted in the case.
NEET Paper Leak Investigation
The NEET-UG paper-leak case has been one of the major controversies surrounding the medical entrance examination, which affected millions of candidates. The investigation has focused on allegations of the question paper being obtained and circulated before the examination. The CBI has filed a chargesheet against 13 accused persons in the case, according to reports.
The court's latest order concerns Lokhande's access to reading material while in custody and does not affect the ongoing investigation or his legal status in the case.
Trial Proceedings Continue
The case continues before the designated court in Delhi, with proceedings related to the evidence and documents collected during the investigation. The permission to read religious and historical literature is part of the routine judicial process concerning an undertrial's access to permitted material while in prison. The books will remain subject to prison regulations and security scrutiny.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 04, 2026 09:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
