New Delhi, 29 June (H.S.): The Rouse Avenue Court on Monday extended the judicial custody of 10 accused in the NEET paper leak case till July 11. The accused were produced before the court through video conferencing as their earlier period of judicial custody was set to expire on Monday.

The court had previously extended their judicial custody until June 29 during the hearing held on June 15. On the same day, it had also permitted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to interrogate three of the accused while they remained in judicial custody.

The court had allowed the CBI to question Manish Waghmare, Dhananjay Lokhande and Shubham Khairnar for one hour each between June 17 and June 19.

The court has now extended the judicial custody of Manish Waghmare, Dhananjay Lokhande, Shubham Khairnar, Mangiwal Bival, Vikas Bival, Dinesh Bival, Dr. Manoj Shirure, Tejas Harshad Kumar, Yash Yadav and Manisha Sanjay Havaldar until July 11.

The case was registered on May 12 following a complaint filed by a government official. The CBI lodged the FIR under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Following allegations that the question paper for the NEET examination conducted on May 3 had been leaked, the examination was cancelled and re-conducted on June 21. The Central Government subsequently ordered a CBI investigation into the matter.

So far, 13 accused have been arrested in connection with the NEET paper leak case.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar