The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday requested a four-day remand for four of the five individuals arrested by Gujarat police for their alleged involvement in irregularities in the NEET-UG exam held on May 5 in Godhra. CBI lawyer Dhruv Malik informed the district court that although the Gujarat police had previously conducted an investigation, the CBI required custody of these accused to carry out a fresh probe. The individuals in question were apprehended by Gujarat police on May 8 and in the subsequent week.
CBI targets key figures in NEET exam scam
The CBI is specifically seeking the custody of school teacher Tushar Bhatt, principal of Jay Jalaram School Purushottam Sharma, and middlemen Vibhor Anand and Arif Vohra. The CBI did not seek a remand of education consultant Parsuram Roy. All five are currently lodged in the Godhra sub-jail. Principal District Judge of Panchmahal, CK Chauhan, expressed apprehension on CBI's remand application saying police or investigative agencies cannot seek custody of an accused beyond the initial 15 days following arrest.
Judge cites SC ruling on remand limits
Citing a 1992 decision by the Supreme Court in the CBI Vs Anupam Kulkarni case, Judge Chauhan said a new remand after the lapse of 15 days from arrest can be granted only when the accused was hospitalised during that period or he did not cooperate during the initial remand. Malik, however, argued that remand beyond the first 15 days of the arrest can be granted under section 167 of the Code of Criminal Procedure if the judge finds it fit. Malik informed the court that the CBI is probing a larger conspiracy spread across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, Delhi and Jharkhand.
CBI links exam scam to school centre
As per the CBI's preliminary probe, the accused had asked some candidates to choose Jay Jalaram school in Godhra as their exam centre, said Malik. "Last year, when NEET was held in the same school, the accused learnt that OMR answer sheets were kept there overnight before being dispatched. This gave them an idea and they asked their students to choose this centre to execute their plans," said Malik. The court has kept further hearing on Saturday, when it is expected to pronounce an order about the CBI's remand plea.
CBI records statements of NEET bribery candidates
On Thursday, a CBI team investigating the NEET-UG malpractices case recorded statements of six candidates who had allegedly paid an accused for helping them clear the medical entrance test held at Jay Jalaram school near Godhra. A CBI team has been camping in Gujarat for the last four days as part of the probe. A case was registered by Godhra police on May 8 against three persons under Indian Penal Code (IPC) provisions, including criminal conspiracy, cheating and criminal breach of trust, for allegedly trying to help 27 candidates clear the NEET-UG by charging Rs 10 lakh each.
CBI files charge sheet against unidentified persons
Earlier on June 23, the CBI filed a fresh FIR against unidentified persons under IPC sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating), among others, amid countrywide protests and litigation by students for a probe into paper leak claims. The CBI has taken over the investigation of five new cases of alleged malpractices in NEET-UG being probed by police in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Bihar. The racket was unearthed after the Panchmahal district collector received a tip-off that some persons were involved in malpractices linked to the exam, as per the FIR registered on May 8 by the Godhra police.
(With PTI inputs)
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