6 days ago
NEET-UG 2024 paper leak case: No evidence found against suspected ringleader by CBI, say sources
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New Delhi: A Patna court last week granted default bail to Sanjeev Mukhiya , who was suspected to be the ringleader behind the leak of medical entrance exam papers last year, after the CBI did not file a charge sheet against him within 90 days of his arrest. People in the know of the investigation into the 2024 NEET-UG paper leak case told ET that the central agency did not find any evidence against Mukhiya and so did not file any charge sheet naming the Bihar Police arrested Mukhiya on April 25, the CBI had sought his remand from a local court. Among the reasons that triggered CBI's move to interrogate Mukhiya was a viral video that purportedly showed him entering a premises where exam papers were printed. After investigation, the CBI found out that the video was of 2023, the people said. Technical analysis, statements of witnesses and co-accused and other evidence did not suggest the involvement of Mukhiya in the leak of NEET-UG 2024, they told ET. "So far no evidence has come to light against Sanjeev Mukhiya establishing his involvement in the leak of NEET-UG 2024," an official told ET on the condition of is wanted in other alleged paper leaks, including the Bihar constable recruitment scam 2023 and Bihar teachers' recruitment scam. Mukhiya had filed an application in a special CBI court in Patna seeking bail in the NEET-2024 paper leak case. He argued that he had been in judicial custody for 90 days and that the CBI had not filed a charge sheet against him, which entitled him to be released on hearing arguments from both sides, the court applied Section 167 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and granted him bail. The section deals with the statutory period for filing chargesheet after the CBI so far has arrested 50 accused in the NEET case. It filed the first charge sheet naming 13 accused on July 1, 2024. Another charge sheet was filed against six people in September 2024. The CBI later filed three more supplementary charge sheets in October and November 2024. The last charge sheet, filed on November 22 last year, names five additional accused. The investigation is ongoing.
