CBI's absence stalls first hearing in NEET paper leak fast-track court

The first hearing before Delhi's newly designated fast-track court for the NEET paper leak case ended without substantive proceedings on Monday after no lawyer appeared on behalf of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The court adjourned the matter to August 3.

The case came up before Special Judge Anu Grover Baliga, who recently assumed charge of the special court set up exclusively to hear offences related to paper leaks and other unfair means in public examinations. The court was scheduled to hear the bail applications of two accused, Dinesh Biwal and Vikas Biwal.

However, with no prosecutor representing the investigating agency present until 10.45 am, the judge recorded the absence in the order. Counsel for the accused requested that the matter be deferred, informing the court that he had to appear in another case before the Rohini district courts and could not wait further. Accepting the request, the judge adjourned the hearing to August 3.

The court also directed the director of prosecution to ensure that a public prosecutor is deputed to the designated court for the next hearing.

The fast-track court began functioning on Saturday after the Delhi high court notified it as a specially designated court to try offences under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, along with related criminal cases. The notification followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement that dedicated fast-track courts would be established to expedite trials in paper leak cases.

The NEET paper leak case was previously being heard by Special Judge Ajay Gupta. On Friday, he extended the judicial custody of all 13 accused until August 6 and rejected the bail plea of paediatrician Dr Manoj Bhagwanrao Shirure. In its order, the court observed that the investigation prima facie indicated Shirure was one of the active conspirators of an organised paper leak gang.

The controversy erupted after allegations of irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) conducted on May 3. Following widespread protests, the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the examination on May 12 and conducted a re-test on June 21.