What is stopping the Crime Investigation Department (CID) to initiate prosecution proceedings against the accused in the sensational EAMCET- II paper leak case in 2016 that led thousands of students to take the test again?
It appears that the CID is dragging its feet to complete the investigation before it files a charge sheet. A top officer from the department revealed to The Hindu that over a year-and-a-half since the scam, the probe is still on.
While the officer asserted that the charge sheet would be filed soon, there have been numerous instances of such assurances being given and deadlines being overshot.
Last December, the investigative agency said ‘all hurdles’ in the case have been overcome and the probe was in an advanced stage for them to initiate prosecution proceedings against the accused. However, several officials associated with the investigation are tight-lipped on the fresh deadline for filing of charge sheet.
In November last year, the CID had sent notices to officials of the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, and management of the Gowar Sons Publishers, the printing press allegedly involved in leaking the question paper, with a few queries. The replies were sent within 10 days of the given time.
The queries were sent to sought ‘one final clarification’ ahead of filing a charge sheet and to ascertain whether the question paper was leaked from Hyderabad or Delhi. “Responses from both entities were analysed, and there is enough documentary and technical evidence to nail the accused in the case,” said a cop, who expressed surprise at the delay on the part of the top brass in filing the charge sheet.
The medical entrance exam was conducted on July 9, 2016, and the CID registered a case on July 25, 2016, starting off a thorough investigation.
Of over 80 people involved in the scam, the CID arrested more than 60 of them, including the kingpin Shiv Bahadur Singh alias S.B. Singh along with his assistant Anoop Kumar Singh, who were nabbed in Janupur, Uttar Pradesh.
However, the CID is yet to nab 19 more persons who are currently absconding.
State CID Chief Govind Singh said the probe is still on.
