NEET-UG paper leak scam: CBI gets court nod to examine 3 accused in jail

NEW DELHI: The Rouse Avenue Court allowed an application moved by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seeking permission to examine three accused in jail from June 17 to June 19 in connection with the alleged NEET-UG paper leak case.Accordingly, the CBI will examine accused Manisha Waghmare, Shubham Khairnar and Dhananjay Lokhande for further investigation. Vacation Judge Surendra Mohit Singh granted permission to interrogate the accused for one hour, news agency ANI reported.The court also extended the judicial custody of accused Mangilal Biwal, Vikas Biwal, Dinesh Biwal, Dhananjay Lokhande, Shubham Khairnar, Dr Manoj Shirure, Tejas Harshad Kumar, Manisha Waghmare and Manisa Hawaldar till June 29.All the accused were produced before the court through video conferencing from Tihar Jail. Senior Public Prosecutor VK Pathak and Investigation Officer BP Raju appeared on behalf of the CBI, ANI reported.The CBI informed the court that some new facts have surfaced in the statements of certain witnesses, which need to be verified with the three accused.Earlier, an FIR was registered on May 12 on a complaint filed by a government official under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Prevention of Corruption Act, and offences related to the use of unfair means in examinations.

According to the CBI, Mangilal Biwal contacted Shubham Khairnar to obtain the NEET-UG question paper for his son, Vikas Biwal, which was later recovered from Mangilal Biwal’s mobile phone.Mangilal allegedly received the leaked paper from Yash Yadav for a deal of Rs 10 lakh. During interrogation, Vikas confessed that he came in contact with Yash Yadav while undergoing coaching in Sikar, Rajasthan, the CBI said.It is also alleged that Mangilal sold the leaked NEET-UG question paper to other aspirants for Rs 12 lakh, ANI reported.Further, it is alleged that Shubham first leaked the paper to Yash, who then passed it on to Mangilal, then to Vikas, and subsequently to Dinesh Biwal.(With agency inputs)