NEET-UG 2026 accused Yash Yadav gets court nod to take exam, attend wedding in custody
Synopsis
A Delhi court has found a rare middle path in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case — denying bail to accused Yash Yadav but allowing him to sit the very exam he allegedly helped compromise, under police escort. Simultaneously, the Centre has blocked Telegram and disabled its message-editing feature to prevent a repeat of fabricated leak claims that rattled candidates last year.
Key Takeaways
Rouse Avenue Court on 16 June permitted NEET-UG 2026 accused Yash Yadav to appear for the re-examination on 21 June under police escort.
Yadav was also allowed to attend his sister's wedding in police custody; the court declined to grant interim bail.
Judicial custody of 10 accused , including Yadav, was extended to 29 June by the same court a day earlier; the CBI is investigating.
The Centre has temporarily restricted Telegram across India until 22 June under Section 69A of the IT Act, on NTA recommendations.
Telegram's message-editing feature has been directed to remain disabled in India until 30 June to prevent fabrication of fake leak screenshots.
The NTA confirmed no paper has been leaked and urged candidates to report fraud via National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 .
A Delhi court on Tuesday, 16 June permitted Yash Yadav, an accused in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, to appear for the re-examination on 21 June and attend his sister's wedding — both while remaining in police custody. The Rouse Avenue Court passed the order on an application filed by Yadav seeking interim relief, stopping short of granting interim bail but allowing both activities under police escort arrangements.
What the Court Ordered
Yadav had sought interim bail for the limited purpose of sitting the NEET-UG examination and participating in his sister's marriage ceremonies. The court declined to grant bail but directed that he be taken to the examination centre under police escort on 21 June and similarly permitted to attend the wedding on the relevant date under custody. The distinction is significant: the court preserved the integrity of the ongoing investigation while accommodating legitimate personal milestones.
Where the Broader Case Stands
The development comes a day after the Rouse Avenue Court extended the judicial custody of 10 accused in the case — being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) — until 29 June. The accused, produced before the court via video conferencing from Tihar Jail, include Yash Yadav, Mangilal Biwal, Dinesh Biwal, Vikas Biwal, Dhananjay Lokhande, Tejas Harshad Shah, Shubham Khairnar, Manisha Waghmare, Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, and Dr Manoj Shirure.
Centre Restricts Telegram Ahead of Re-Exam
In a parallel move, the Central government has imposed a temporary restriction on messaging platform Telegram across India until 22 June, acting on recommendations from the National Testing Agency (NTA). The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued the directions under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, citing the sensitive examination period ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination.
Telegram has additionally been directed to disable its message-editing feature in India until 30 June. The NTA alleged the feature had been misused in the past to fabricate 'paper leak' claims by editing older messages and replacing attachments while retaining original timestamps — a tactic that spreads panic among candidates without any factual basis.
Fraudulent Channels and NTA's Warning
The NTA reiterated that no examination paper has been leaked and cautioned candidates against paying for purported advance access to question papers. According to the agency, several Telegram channels operating under names such as 'Paper Leaked NEET', 'Re-NEET 2026', and 'Private Mafia' had allegedly been demanding payments ranging from a few thousand rupees to several lakh rupees while falsely claiming access to papers.
The NTA urged citizens to report suspicious offers or misinformation through the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, reaffirming its commitment to a fair and credible examination process. With the re-examination just days away, both the judicial and regulatory responses signal an intensified effort to ensure the NEET-UG 2026 process is not compromised again.
Point of View
Even if under escort. It underscores a structural tension in India's exam-integrity framework: criminal proceedings and re-examination timelines are colliding, and courts are being asked to manage the fallout. The Telegram restriction is a blunter instrument — a platform-wide block to contain misinformation — and raises questions about proportionality when the NTA itself acknowledges no paper has actually leaked. If fake-leak panic can trigger a national platform ban, the regulatory response may be outpacing the verified threat.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Delhi court allow NEET-UG accused Yash Yadav to take the exam?
The Rouse Avenue Court permitted Yash Yadav, an accused in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, to appear for the re-examination on 21 June under police escort after he filed an application seeking interim relief. The court stopped short of granting interim bail, allowing the activity under custody arrangements instead.
What is the current status of the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case?
The case is being investigated by the CBI. The Rouse Avenue Court extended the judicial custody of 10 accused — including Yash Yadav — until 29 June 2025. All 10 were produced before the court via video conferencing from Tihar Jail.
Why has Telegram been blocked in India ahead of NEET-UG 2026?
The Central government restricted Telegram access across India until 22 June on the recommendation of the NTA, citing the sensitive examination period. MeitY issued the directions under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
What is the message-editing restriction on Telegram about?
Telegram has been directed to disable its message-editing feature in India until 30 June. The NTA alleged the feature was previously misused to fabricate paper leak claims by editing old messages and swapping attachments while keeping original timestamps intact.
Has the NEET-UG 2026 paper actually been leaked?
The NTA has categorically stated that no examination paper has been leaked. It has warned candidates not to pay anyone claiming to offer advance access to question papers, and has urged the public to report such fraud via the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930.
