Nation

IIE DIGITAL: The first hearing before the specially designated fast-track court handling the NEET paper leak case was adjourned on Monday after no representative from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) appeared to oppose the bail applications of two accused.

Special Judge Anu Grover Baliga noted that no counsel for the prosecution had appeared even by 10:45 a.m. during the hearing of the bail pleas filed by accused Dinesh Biwal and Vikas Biwal. Defence counsel A.P. Singh informed the court that he could not wait any longer and requested that the matter be deferred.

Accepting the request, the court adjourned the hearing to August 3 and directed the Director of Prosecution to ensure that a public prosecutor is deputed to appear before the court in the case.

The adjournment came just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the establishment of fast-track courts to expedite the trial of paper leak cases across the country.

Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh criticised the government, questioning the effectiveness of the newly announced fast-track mechanism. In a post on X, he alleged that the government's own investigating agency had failed to show urgency in pursuing the case.

The Delhi High Court had, on July 23, designated Judge Baliga's court as a special fast-track court to hear cases registered under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, including the NEET paper leak matter.

Earlier, Special Judge Ajay Gupta, who had been hearing the case, extended the judicial custody of all 13 accused until August 6. The court also rejected the bail plea of paediatrician Dr Manoj Bhagwanrao Shirure, observing that the investigation indicated he was an active member of an organised paper leak conspiracy.

The controversy erupted after allegations of irregularities in the NEET-UG examination conducted on May 3. Following widespread protests and allegations of a paper leak, the National Testing Agency cancelled the examination on May 12 and conducted a fresh test on June 21.

The issue sparked nationwide outrage and prolonged protests, eventually leading to the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, bringing renewed attention to examination reforms and accountability in India's competitive testing system.