NEET 2024 paper leak: Patna HC grants bail to accused
Patna: The Patna High Court granted bail to an accused in the infamous NEET UG 2024 question paper leak case,
The case was initially registered under Shastri Nagar Police Station Case No. 358/2024 and later handed over to the Economic Offence Unit (EOU of Bihar Police and then to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which officially took charge of the investigation on June 23, 2024.
During the hearing, Sikandar Yadavendu's counsel Apoorv Harsh argued that the allegations against his client were baseless and unsupported by evidence.
Also Read:NEET 2024 paper leak case update: EOU conducts raid at mastermind's residence
He further stated that Yadavendu’s only involvement was in arranging a hotel room for his family members and that he had no role in the alleged conspiracy, including leaking the paper or facilitating solver gangs.
The High Court, while granting bail, directed Yadavendu to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation and law enforcement authorities, reports IANS.
The case has been high-profile since its inception, drawing widespread media attention. Sikandar Yadavendu was widely portrayed as the “mastermind” in initial media reports, which had a severe reputational impact on him and his family.
With the bail order, the court has provided some measure of vindication.
The CBI had filed its first FIR naming eight accused, including Sanjeev Mukhiya, Ayush Raj, Rocky, Amit Anand, Nitish Kumar, Bittu, Akhilesh, and Sikandar Yadavendu.
Of these, Yadavendu is the first to be granted bail by the High Court. So far, over 30 suspects have been arrested in connection with the NEET-UG paper leak.
The investigation continues under the supervision of central agencies. The main mastermind, Sanjeev Mukhiya, is still absconding since the case surfaced on May 5, 2024.
He is a native of Nalanda district, and CBI has raided several places and also questioned his relatives to find some clues about his hideouts.
Medical Dialogues recently reported that After the Centre assured of implementing exam reforms suggested by the expert panel, the Supreme Court closed a matter over the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) in holding last year's NEET UG 2024.
According to PTI report, a bench comprising Justices P S Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi took note of the Centre's compliance reports on the issue and the submissions of its solicitor general Tushar Mehta as it disposed of the plea.
Mehta said the Centre had accepted all the suggestions of the seven-member panel, except one--NTA conducting online NEET exams--for the time being.
"Over 26 lakh students take up NEET across India and the government will have to ascertain availability of internet and computers... this will take some time," he said, "but the report (of the expert panel) has been accepted".
