STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In the much publicized Sub Inspector Paper Leakage Scam, Chief Judicial Magistarte Jammu, Amarjeet Singh Langeh has rejected bail application of one Raman Sharma, son of Chuni Lal, a resident of village Nore in Maira Mandrian area of Khour, posted as Selection Grade Constable (SgCt) in Jammu & Kashmir Police.
Pertinent to mention here that Bajinder Singh, son of Late Sewa Ram, resident of House No 1694, Sec-9, Karnal, Haryana has withdrawn application as Investigating Officer made a statement that petitioner has not been arrested in FIR in question whereas counsel for Anil Kumar, son of Om Parkash Lehroda, resident of 119, Dharson Mahendra Garh (Haryana) and Yatin Yadav, son of Desh Raj Yadav, resident of House No B/86-B, Gali-5, Mohalla Vikash Nagar, Rewari (Haryana), is under instructions not to pursue with/prosecute instant application as of now.
While rejecting bail application of Raman Sharma, CJM Jammu Amarjeet Singh Langeh after hearing Adv Diksha Thapa for the applicant whereas Public Prosector Vijay Dogra appearing for CBI, observed that investigation has brought to fore that petitioner is one of the key players in alleged leakage of examination paper for posts of Sub-Inspectors in JKP conducted by JK Service Selection Board; that petitioner solicited candidates for purchase of the leaked paper and also took them to Karnal (Haryana) on March 26, 2022 for getting leaked paper and collected an amount of around Rs 33 lakh from them; that he also arranged stay of co-accused Yatin Yadav and Anil at a Hotel in Jammu on April 13-14, 2022 using his own identity card; that petitioner was in regular touch with Haryana-based members of the gang involved in leakage of aforesaid paper; that during search of the residential premises of petitioner, hand-written documents mentioning names/parentage and addresses of candidates pertaining to various examinations including Sub-Inspector exams were allegedly seized from the residence of the petitioner; that petitioner has destroyed his mobile phone in an attempt to frustrate the investigation; that petitioner is a habitual offender as is also part of criminal conspiracy in the leakage of question papers of the other exams conducted by JK service selection board for the posts of Accounts Assistant (Finance) and Junior Engineer (Civil) etc. etc. “Petitioner seems to have been arrested on 13.09.2022 in aforesaid FIR for offence under section 420 read with section 120-B of IPC. Further, investigating agency is in the process of gathering more evidence and thus is intensely focusing on further investigation of the case, given the range of inter-state manifestations – it has. Investigation also reveals that petitioner was presently posted in security wing of JK Police, Jammu since November 2019. He is Selection Grade Constable and was earlier posted in the office of Director General of Police J&K,” the Court observed.
CJM Jammu further observed that kind of alliance that petitioner has (as per investigation) with the Kingpins of an interstate gang that indulges in leakage of examination paper for various examinations for recruitment to public services – only displays and that too egregiously, the scale of resources, courage and influence that petitioner has to make such an intrusion. “Against this backdrop, the apprehension of prosecution/investigating agency that petitioner may intimidate the witnesses and tamper with evidence in the event of grant of bail – is plainly sound and persuasive. On this score also, application of petitioner is liable to be rejected at this stage. The kind of revelations made and evidence gathered during investigation only amplifies that rot is much deeper. Also, the larger interest of public and state is yet another circumstance which cannot be side stepped while considering a bail application. In the case in hand, the grant of bail to petitioner, on facts – would only have the impact of eroding public faith in the credibility of fairness in the working of the system and institutions. This is yet another circumstance which warrants refusal of bail to petitioner, particularly when petitioner is also alleged to be involved in leakage of paper for the posts of Account Assistants (Finance) and Junior Engineer (Civil),” the Court observed and rejected the bail application.
