Stories
NEET Paper Leak: Delhi Court Rejects Plea to Defer Arguments on Charges
- •A Delhi court rejected a plea to defer arguments on charges in the NEET-UG 2026 question paper leak case, stating that further investigation does not prevent proceeding with arguments.
- •The accused's counsel argued that Section 12-A of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, limits further investigation to two months and prohibits supplementary chargesheets once trial begins.
- •The court clarified that the two-month deadline in Section 12-A only grants statutory bail rights if not met, but does not restrict ongoing or further investigation.
- •Citing a Supreme Court verdict and new BNSS provisions, the court affirmed the police's right to conduct further investigation, even after a chargesheet, with court permission.
- •The court noted that investigation for the 13 accused is complete, with further probe focused on CFSL reports and other conspirators, directing arguments on charges to continue due to the case's complexity and need for expeditious trial.
Key Questions Answered
Special Judge Ajay Gupta ruled that arguments on the point of charge cannot be deferred even when further investigation is pending, noting that the probe regarding the 13 charge-sheeted accused is complete. The court emphasized that the ongoing investigation only pertains to awaiting CFSL reports and identifying other conspirators.
No, the court clarified that Section 12-A's two-month deadline does not prohibit the investigating agency from continuing a regular probe or carrying out further investigations. The only legal repercussion for not completing the investigation within that timeframe is that the accused becomes entitled to statutory bail.
Yes, citing Section 193(9) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, the court noted that the investigating agency is legally permitted to carry out further investigations and file supplementary reports even after the trial has commenced, provided they obtain permission from the court.
