Patna: Sanjeev Mukhiya, whose name surfaced prominently in connection with the Patna NEET-UG question paper leak case in 2024, has received relief from a special court, which ordered his release from judicial custody after the CBI did not file a chargesheet against him.
The order was passed during a hearing on Monday evening, when Mukhiya appeared before the court through video conferencing.
The court directed his release after considering the status of the CBI investigation and the absence of a chargesheet against him.
However, he will stay in jail in another case.
Mukhiya had come under the scrutiny of investigating agencies after his alleged links to the NEET-UG paper leak surfaced.
The CBI had interrogated him and examined his possible role in the network allegedly involved in the leakage and distribution of the question paper.
However, during the course of its investigation, the agency did not file a charge sheet against Mukhiya.
The absence of sufficient evidence to proceed against him was taken into consideration during the court proceedings.
The CBI has investigated the roles of several accused in the NEET-UG paper leak case and, according to reports, has filed charge sheets against 45 accused persons.
The agency examined the alleged chain of events from the leakage of the question paper to its distribution among candidates.
The NEET-UG paper leak case came to light in 2024, following which the Bihar Police initially investigated the matter.
The Central government subsequently handed over the investigation to the CBI.
The CBI registered its own case on June 23, 2024, as RC-224/2024. A separate case had earlier been registered by the Bihar Police at Shastri Nagar police station in Patna as Case No. 358/2024.
After taking over the probe, the CBI questioned several suspects, examined documents and investigated the alleged network involved in the paper leak and the subsequent distribution of the question paper.
Sanjeev Mukhiya’s name emerged during the investigation, leading the agency to examine his alleged role.
He was questioned and subjected to remand proceedings, prompting speculation that he could eventually be chargesheeted.
However, the CBI ultimately did not file a chargesheet against him.
Based on the current status of the investigation, the special court has now ordered his release from judicial custody after the required bail bonds were furnished.
The court’s order provides Mukhiya relief from continued judicial custody in this case.
However, the order should not be interpreted as a judicial finding that all allegations surrounding the broader NEET-UG paper leak case have been disproved.
(IANS)
