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CB produces charge-sheet against 8 new beneficiaries

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 8/2/2014 3:34:34 PM

SRINAGAR, Aug 01: The Crime Branch today produced charge sheet against eight new beneficiaries who are accused in Common Entrance Test (CET)-2012 paper leak scam.
The charge sheet was produced before the anti corruption court here. These eight beneficiaries include Abdul Hamid Bhat, Suhail Ahmad Wani, Bashir Ahmad Tantray, Mehvish Bashir, DR Parveen, Binish Bhat, Dr Sabeena and Mansha.
All of them have been booked by the crime branch for being a part of the conspiracy.
Pertinently, on July 24, the High Court had asked the Crime Branch Kashmir (CBK) to file fresh status within two weeks in Common Entrance Test (CET)-2012 paper leak scam.
A division bench of the high court comprising of Chief Justice M M Kumar and Justice Hasnain Massodi passed the orders giving two weeks to the respondents to file fresh status report before the court.
On July 2, while pulling up the crime Branch for its ‘lackadaisical approach’ adopted in causing arrest of 15 absconders, the High Court asked IGP Crime to supervise the investigations into CET-2012 paper leak scam.
The court had also censured Crime Branch for its ‘tardy’ investigations into the matter. The crime branch has now been asked to expedite the arrest of 15 absconders wanted by the court in the matter.
The Court had further asked Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE) to submit status report with regard to steps taken for cancelation of admissions of four new beneficiaries of the CET-paper leak scam identified by the Crime Branch. Meanwhile, the division bench rejected the Crime Branch proposal of closing its investigations into the CET-2009 and CET-2011 admissions saying that no evidence was available to establish any kind of fraud.
The Crime Branch had in its report said that it has got some links in CET-2010 admissions but the same are not conclusive which could establish a fraud. The Court however, said that if the crime branch has got some clues in 2010 admission which warrant a probe how can investigations in 2009 and 2011 be closed?
The court directed all cellular companies including BSNL, Airtel, Aircel, Vodafone, and other companies to cooperate and provide all necessary information to the crime branch.
On February 17 this year, in compliance to the high court directions, the BOPEE had cancelled admissions of 12 students who had allegedly purchased papers prior to the conduct of CET in 2012.
The admissions of the 12 beneficiary students were cancelled as their names surface in the Crime Branch list of students who secured admissions in government medical college here after purchasing the CET question papers two years ago.
Six of them are presently lodged in Central Jail here while fresh arrest warrants have been issued against three others-two of them girls-by the Court. The three remaining beneficiaries are minors (below 18-years of age) and they have been lodged in juvenile home, sources in crime branch told Kashmir Times.
The High Court had earlier censured BOPEE for its ‘snail pace’ shown in pre-requisite legal formalities for cancellation of admissions of tainted candidates. The court had said that nobody would be allowed to reap fruits of CET-2012 paper leak scam. Since the high court is scheduled to hear the matter on Tuesday, the BOPEE filed its status report informing the court about cancellation of admissions.
In its status report, sources said that the BOPEE has said that it needs consent from authorities including Medical Council of India (MCI), registrar examination of two universities of the state, principal government medical colleges of the state before allotting the seats that felt vacant following cancellation of admissions to meritorious candidates of 2012.
A division bench of the High Court comprising of Justice Hasnain Masoodi and Justice A M Mgarey has said that whosoever has secured admission through deceitful and fraudulent means is to be ‘de-seated’ so that the meritorious candidates who would have been able to get admission by the dint of their hard work and on the strength of their merit are not deprived of usufructs of their labour and get admission that has been wrongfully snatched away from them. On February 15, the accused turned approver Farooq Itoo who was granted pardon by a city court deposed before Judicial Magistrate here saying that he purchased CET-2012 question paper against a payment of Rs 60 Lacs in 2012.
“In his statement which was recorded under section 164 before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar, Itoo said that he gave Rs 60 Lacs to Mushtaq Pir, former Chairman BOPEE in two equal installments in lieu of CET papers which he later sold among various students aspiring to become doctors,” a crime branch officer told Kashmir Times, pleading anonymity. Pertinently, Pir is lodged in central jail Srinagar.