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

A fast-track court at Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court, which is hearing the NEET paper leak case, has taken cognisance of the chargesheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Special Judge Ajay Gupta took cognisance of the chargesheet against 13 accused in the case.

The CBI has named 13 people as accused in the case, all of whom are currently in judicial custody. They have been identified as Yash Yadav, Mangilal Biwal, Dinesh Biwal, Vikas Biwal, Shubham Khairnar, Dhananjay Lokhande, Prahlad Kulkarni, Tejas Harshad Kumar, Dr Manoj Shirure, Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, Manisha Waghmare, Manisha Mandhare and Manisha Sanjay Havaladar.

The CBI registered the case under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 315(5), 318(4), 61(2), 238 and 303(2), along with Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Sections 10, 3, 4, 5 and 11 of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act.

Earlier, the court had refused to grant permission for lie-detector tests on three accused — Mangilal Biwal, Vikas Biwal and Dinesh Biwal.

During the proceedings concerning the chargesheet, the CBI submitted that the FIR in the case was registered on May 12, following which the investigation was launched immediately with the assistance of 72 officers and eight cyber-forensic experts.

The agency said it conducted searches at 92 locations across Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi and other states as part of the investigation.

The CBI further informed the court that the first arrest in the case was made on May 13.

The chargesheet and the court’s cognisance mark a significant step forward in the investigation into the alleged irregularities surrounding the NEET examination. The accused will now face further judicial proceedings in accordance with the law.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar