New Delhi, July 27 -- The first hearing before the newly designated fast-track court handling the alleged NEET paper leak case was adjourned on Monday after no representative of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) appeared to oppose the bail applications.
Special Judge Anu Grover Baliga was scheduled to hear the bail pleas of accused Dinesh Biwal and Vikas Biwal. However, the proceedings could not continue as no counsel appeared for the prosecution.
"None appears on behalf of the state till 10.45 am to argue on the bail application," the judge noted in the order.
The court also recorded the submissions of the accused's counsel, who sought an adjournment till August 3, saying he had to appear in a matter before the Rohini district courts and could not wait any longer. Allowing the request, the judge listed the matter for hearing on August 3 and directed the director of prosecution to depute a public prosecutor to the designated court.
Judge Baliga assumed charge of the special court on Saturday. Earlier, on July 23, the Delhi High Court had notified that her court would function as a Specially Designated Fast Track Court to hear offences under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, along with related cases. The notification followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement that fast track courts would be set up to ensure speedy trials in paper leak cases.
Before the case was transferred, Special Judge Ajay Gupta on Friday extended the judicial custody of all 13 accused till August 6. The court also rejected the bail plea of paediatrician Dr Manoj Bhagwanrao Shirure, observing that the investigation prima facie showed he was "one of the active conspirators of an organised paper leak gang".
The National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG examination conducted on May 3 after allegations of a paper leak surfaced. A fresh examination was held on June 21.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.