A Delhi court on Tuesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file its response to an interim bail application submitted by Yash Yadav, an accused in the NEET-UG paper leak case. Yadav has requested a 15-day interim bail to enable him to appear for the NEET-UG re-examination scheduled for June 21.
Court Proceedings and Directions
The court granted the investigative agency time to submit its reply and scheduled the next hearing for June 12. Earlier this month, the court had permitted Yadav to retain books and study materials to prepare for the upcoming examination while in custody. Additionally, the court sought clarification from the National Testing Agency (NTA) regarding whether Yadav would be allowed to sit for the examination despite being an accused and whether he had been issued an admit card.
CBI's Allegations in the Paper Leak Case
The CBI has arrested multiple individuals in connection with the alleged May 3 paper leak, including Shubham Khairnar, Manisha Waghmare, Prahalad Kulkarni, Manisha Mandhare, Manisha Sanjay Hawaldar, Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, Dr. Manoj Shirure, and Tejas Harshad Kumar Shah. All accused are currently in judicial custody.
According to the investigation, Manisha Waghmare, a beautician by profession, allegedly connected students and parents willing to pay for access to the leaked paper with Dhananjay Lokhande. Lokhande then supplied the paper to Nashik-based BAMS student Shubham Khairnar, who subsequently forwarded it electronically for profit. The leaked material reportedly passed through Gurugram-based Yash Yadav before reaching Rajasthan resident Mangilal Biwal, who is accused of further distribution. The investigation has since expanded across Maharashtra, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
This case highlights the complexities of the NEET-UG paper leak, which has led to widespread arrests and ongoing judicial scrutiny. The court's decision on Yadav's interim bail will be closely watched as the re-examination date approaches.
