NEET UG Paper Leak: The Economic Offenses Wing of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court in a major crackdown on the controversial NEET-UG exam paper leak case. The investigating agency has presented a charge sheet against a total of 13 accused in this case. The chargesheet will be placed before a fast track court specially constituted to hear paper leak cases for further legal proceedings. Arjun Anand has been appointed as the Public Prosecutor of the CBI in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court in this case.

Crimes filed under statutory sections and strict provisions

The chargesheet filed by the CBI has framed charges against the accused under Sections 315(5), 318(4), 61(2), 238 and 303(2) of the Indian Penal Code (BNS) 2023. Apart from this, action has also been taken under Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988 and Sections 3, 4, 5, 11 and 10 of the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Practices) Act, 2024.

13 accused included in the charge sheet in judicial custody

All the 13 accused named in the chargesheet in the case are currently under judicial custody in jail. Among these accused are Yash Yadav, Mangilal Biwal, Dinesh Biwal, Vikas Biwal, Shubham Khairnar, Dhananjay Lokhande, Prahlad Kulkarni, Tejas Harshad Kumar, Dr. They include Manoj Shirure, Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, Manisha Waghmare, Manisha Mandhare and Manisha Sanjay Hawaldar. The court has extended the judicial custody of all the accused till August 6.

Details of composition and hearing of fast track courts

Earlier on July 23, a fast-track court was set up at Rouse Avenue Court for cases under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Practices) Act 2024. On July 27, the court directed the CBI to appoint a lawyer to represent them. The court adjourned the bail application of Dinesh Biwal and Vikas Biwal as the CBI lawyer was not present during the hearing. It may be mentioned that a preliminary FIR was registered in this matter on May 12 based on the complaint of a government official.

Important Supreme Court hearings and notice to state governments

On the other hand, the Supreme Court held an important hearing on July 28 regarding the protests and subsequent police action against irregularities in the NEET-UG examination. Chief Justice Suryakant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. The Mohanni bench has issued notices to the governments of Delhi, Bihar, Maharashtra, Assam, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala and sought their response. The Supreme Court directed to preserve all the CCTV footage of the incident and made it clear that no strict action will be taken against the students or protestors against whom any criminal case has been registered against them.