New Delhi, 12 June (H.S.):

The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has deferred its decision on the interim bail plea filed by NEET paper leak accused Yash Yadav, who had sought permission to appear in the examination.

Special Judge Gaurav Rao observed that the admit cards for the examination have not yet been issued, and therefore postponed the matter. The court has scheduled the next hearing on the interim bail application for June 16.

Yash Yadav had requested 15 days of interim bail, stating that he needed to appear for the examination as well as attend his sister’s wedding. Earlier, on June 2, the court had permitted him to be provided books to help him prepare for the NEET examination.

His counsel, advocate Ambika, argued that the accused needs to continue his NEET preparation. She also informed the court that Yash Yadav had appeared for the NEET examination on May 3, which was later cancelled.

The court had previously extended his judicial custody until June 15. Along with Yash Yadav, the judicial custody of Mangilal Biwal, Vikas Biwal, Dinesh Biwal, and Dhananjay Lokhande was also extended until June 15.

On May 14, the court had sent Mangilal Biwal, Vikas Biwal, Dinesh Biwal, and Yash Yadav to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody. Dhananjay Lokhande was also sent to CBI custody on May 15.

So far, a total of 13 accused have been arrested in connection with the case.

On June 1, the court had sent pediatrician Dr. Manoj Shirure, along with physics teacher Tejas Harshadkumar Shah and Manisha Sanjay Havaldar of Abhang Prabhu Medical Academy in Pune, to judicial custody until June 15.

Earlier, on May 17, Manisha Mandhare was sent to CBI custody until June 2. She was reportedly part of the question paper-setting panel of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and was arrested from a hotel in Mathura.

Manisha Mandhare is accused of conspiring with chemistry teacher PV Rao and Manisha Waghmare to leak NEET question papers. Both PV Rao and Manisha Waghmare were also sent to CBI custody on May 16 by the court.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar