On Wednesday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Aman Singh, a significant conspirator in the NEET-UG paper leak, in Dhanbad, Jharkhand. This marks the seventh arrest by the agency in the ongoing investigation of the NEET-UG exam 2024.

Earlier, on Sunday, June 30, the agency apprehended Dixit Patel, the owner of a private school in Godhra, Gujarat, for alleged malpractices in the NEET-UG 2024 exam. Patel, the sixth person arrested in this case, was detained early Sunday morning at his residence in Panchmahal district.

Patel’s Jay Jalaram School, one of the designated NEET-UG exam centers, is accused of being the hub of fraudulent activities related to the exam held on May 5. Patel allegedly demanded ₹10 lakh from each of at least 27 candidates to help them pass the test. According to Gujarat Police, he instructed candidates not to attempt questions if they were unsure of the answers.

A preliminary investigation by the CBI revealed that Patel advised candidates seeking to use illegal methods to obtain high scores in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-Under Graduate) to select Jay Jalaram School as their exam center.

On Saturday, June 29, the CBI arrested Jamaluddin Ansari, the fifth suspect in the NEET-UG question paper leak case, following the arrest of the principal and vice-principal of Oasis School in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.

Ansari, a marketing professional with a Hindi media organization, has a brother, Salauddin, who works at the same organization as a bureau chief.

On Friday, the agency arrested Dr. Ehsanul Haque, principal of Oasis School, and his deputy Imtiaz Alam. Haque, the district coordinator for the NEET exam in Hazaribag, and Alam, the exam center superintendent at Oasis School and a National Testing Agency (NTA) observer, were implicated in the case. Additionally, two individuals who provided safe premises for NEET candidates, where burnt question papers were recovered by Bihar Police, were also arrested.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday, addressed the situation, stating that the central government was tackling the crisis affecting medical aspirants across the country with urgency. PM Modi assured strict action against those jeopardizing the future of India’s youth, emphasizing, “The government is very serious about preventing such incidents and we are taking steps on a war footing. Those who play with the future of the youth will not be spared.”

As the Ambanis prepare for the grand wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant on July 12, the family organized a ‘Samuh Vivah’ (mass wedding) for over 50 underprivileged couples in Mumbai on Tuesday.

The mass wedding, embodying the Ambani family’s motto “Manav seva hi Madhav seva” (Service to humanity is service to God), was held for couples from the Palghar area at the Reliance Corporate Park. Nearly 800 people, including family members of the couples, local social workers, and community representatives, attended the event.

The Ambani family added a personal touch by attending the occasion and personally extending their best wishes to each couple.

Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani were joined by their son Akash Ambani and his wife Shloka Mehta, as well as their daughter Isha Ambani with her husband Anand Piramal.

Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, expressed her happiness, saying, “I give my blessing to all these couples. The ‘Shubh-lagna’ ceremonies of Anant and Radhika begin today with this mass wedding event.”

As a gesture of goodwill, the Ambanis bestowed significant gifts upon each couple. The brides received gold ornaments, such as Mangalsutras, wedding rings, and nose rings, as well as silver ornaments like toe rings and anklets. Each bride also received a cheque for Rs. 1.01 lakh as her ‘streedhan,’ representing her personal wealth.

Additionally, the couples were gifted essential grocery and household items sufficient for a year, along with appliances and bedding essentials.

This is not the first time the Ambanis have engaged in such philanthropic activities. During previous family weddings, the Ambanis have consistently participated in community service activities, such as providing food service (‘Anna Seva’) to nearby communities in collaboration with NGOs.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s petition challenging his arrest in the Delhi excise policy case.

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna directed the CBI to respond within seven days and set July 17 as the next hearing date.

“Issue notice. Notice on behalf of the CBI is accepted. Let a detailed reply be filed within seven days. Rejoinder, if any, to be filed within two days. List for further hearing on July 17,” the court ordered.

On Monday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Kejriwal approached the high court, asserting that his arrest was “illegal” as it contravened the guidelines set by the Supreme Court in Arnesh Kumar v State of Bihar and section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). These guidelines mandate that the investigating officer must issue a notice to the accused before making an arrest without a warrant. The Supreme Court guidelines aim to prevent unnecessary arrests and ensure mandatory procedures are followed.

Kejriwal also sought to overturn the Delhi court’s June 26 and June 29 orders. On June 26, the court had remanded Kejriwal to three days of CBI custody, stating that the remand was justified as the agency had court permission to examine Kejriwal and found the need to arrest him based on the interrogation report. On June 29, the court remanded the AAP chief to 14 days of judicial custody until July 12.

The CBI claimed that Kejriwal’s arrest was necessary because he had been “evasive, non-cooperative,” and failed to provide satisfactory answers regarding his alleged role in demanding a ₹100 crore kickback. The CBI alleged that this money was funneled to AAP through his close associate Vijay Nair and used for the party’s Goa election campaign. Kejriwal has denied all charges, arguing that mere non-cooperation is not grounds for arrest.

During Tuesday’s hearing, senior advocate AM Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, urged the court to issue notice on the plea, asserting that there was no need to arrest his client. Singhvi highlighted that Kejriwal had been questioned for nine hours in April 2023 and was arrested based on a 2022 FIR. He argued that there was “no basis or reason” for the arrest, as Kejriwal was already in judicial custody and could neither be a flight risk nor tamper with evidence.

Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) DP Singh, attending the hearing virtually, accepted the notice for the CBI.

The CBI arrested Kejriwal on June 26 after a series of dramatic developments, including brief questioning at the court premises. The agency alleged that Kejriwal was a key conspirator in the criminal conspiracy, with former party functionary Vijay Nair contacting liquor manufacturers and traders for undue gratification since March 2021.

According to the CBI, Kejriwal asked YSRCP’s Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy to provide “monetary funding to the AAP” in exchange for support in Delhi’s liquor business. The agency claimed to have corroborated these allegations with contemporaneous documentary evidence. They also alleged that BRS leader K Kavitha demanded ₹100 crore as upfront money for the AAP, and that a wholesale license was granted to Indospirits, a company linked to Kavitha and Reddy’s son, despite pending complaints of cartelization.

Kejriwal’s lawyers have questioned the credibility of the federal agencies, pointing out that they rely on witnesses who were granted pardons and turned approvers.

The CBI has filed four charge sheets in the case against 17 accused persons, including Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and Kavitha. Kejriwal has not been named in any of the indictments yet. The agency claims that out of ₹100 crore received by AAP as kickbacks, ₹44.45 crore was transferred to Goa during June 2021 to January 2022 through “hawala channels” for election campaign purposes.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court to demand the resumption of four toll plazas in Punjab.

In its application, the NHAI claimed that the disruption of toll services at these four toll plazas has resulted in financial losses of ₹113 crore. Acting on the plea, Justice Vinod S Bhardwaj scheduled the hearing for July 10 and asked Punjab’s Advocate General Gurminder Singh to assist the court on the adjourned date. The court also sought a response from the state government, according to NHAI’s counsel, senior advocate Chetan Mittal. A detailed order is awaited.

The application was submitted by NHAI in a case concerning toll service disruptions, which the high court had resolved in 2023.

NHAI project director Lichhman Ram, who filed the application, noted that on January 12, 2023, the court had instructed Punjab and its DGP to provide adequate security and safety arrangements “in terms of the state support agreement to safeguard the property of the NHAI so that trespassers did not take over the remaining toll plazas and normalcy might be restored.”

Subsequently, the DGP (law and order) submitted affidavits on February 15, 2023, and July 12, 2023, stating that directives had been issued to field units for meticulous compliance with the high court order and that adequate safety and security arrangements were provided to safeguard NHAI’s property/toll plazas in Punjab. However, despite various letters to the authorities, no action has been taken, resulting in financial losses for NHAI. The applicant faces “serious problems at two toll plazas encroached upon by protesters, leading to significant law and order issues,” the application stated.

Protests are being carried out by various farmers’ unions against alleged toll fee hikes, claiming that NHAI is increasing the fees without providing adequate facilities.

The affected toll plazas include Usma toll in Tarn Taran on the Amritsar-Tarn Taran Harike bypass (closed since June 6), Chak Bahmniya toll plaza in Jalandhar on Lambra-Shahkot-Moga highway (closed since June 2), Ladhowal toll in Ludhiana on Panipat-Jalandhar highway (closed since June 16), and Ghaggar toll plaza near Ambala on Panipat-Khanna highway.

Mittal highlighted that there is a threat to the life and security of personnel at the toll plazas due to the ongoing protest. The personnel are unable to leave as the assets at the site cannot be left unattended. He stated, “Under the guise of protests, certain anti-social elements/miscreants are extorting money from toll plaza personnel. All these facts have been reported to the district administration and police authorities. However, no action has been taken,” the plea said, seeking a directive for the resumption of toll plazas in the state.

A Delhi Court is set to hear Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea against arrest in the excise policy case on Tuesday. Kejriwal has accused the CBI of acting with ‘malice’ and fabricating a basis for his arrest. The plea, filed on Monday, also highlighted that the agency has failed to present any new evidence after June 4 to justify the investigation or arrest.

The Bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna will hear the matter on Tuesday.

Delhi Court to Hear Kejriwal’s Plea Against Arrest on Tuesday, CM Alleges ‘CBI Acted with Malice’

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal approached the Delhi High Court on Monday against his arrest by the CBI in the excise policy case, alleging that the CBI acted with malice and created a false basis for the arrest.

In his plea, Kejriwal argued that there was no proper justification for his arrest, especially given that the investigation has been ongoing for two years. He claimed that the arrest was based on material already in CBI’s possession before June 4, which he argued is illegal as it involves re-evaluation, not permitted by law.

Kejriwal also noted that the CBI has not presented any new material obtained after June 4 to justify his arrest and that his arrest was based on his responses, which is not a valid ground.

The CBI received permission to investigate under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, only on April 23. Kejriwal stated that no evidence obtained after April 23 has been shown to justify the arrest under Section 41 (1)(b)(ii).

On June 29, the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi sent Kejriwal to judicial custody in connection with the excise policy case. The CBI alleged that during his police custody remand, Kejriwal did not cooperate with the investigation and gave evasive replies contrary to the evidence on record.

The CBI claimed Kejriwal could not provide a proper explanation for the enhancement of the profit margin for wholesalers from 5% to 12% under the new excise policy of Delhi 2021-22, nor for why the Cabinet approval for the revised excise policy was hurriedly obtained during the peak of the second wave of COVID-19.

The CBI further alleged that Kejriwal evaded questions regarding his associate Vijay Nair’s meetings with various liquor business stakeholders and demands for illegal gratification, as well as his own meetings with Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy and others. Kejriwal also could not explain the transfer and utilization of ₹44.54 crore in Goa Assembly Elections by his party during 2021-22.

The CBI stated that further custodial interrogation of Kejriwal is not required at this stage but alleged that he may influence witnesses and tamper with evidence due to his influential position.

On June 26, the trial court’s vacation judge sent Kejriwal to a three-day custodial remand of the CBI. During this period, Kejriwal addressed the court, asserting his and his party’s innocence and accusing the CBI of defaming them through the media.

Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhari, representing Kejriwal, opposed the CBI’s remand application, arguing that the CBI had already filed four chargesheets and that arresting Kejriwal at this stage was unnecessary. He also questioned the timing of Kejriwal’s arrest, suggesting it was done to influence the bail decision.

On June 26, the CBI arrested Kejriwal after the vacation judge of the Delhi Court allowed the agency to examine him in the courtroom before his formal arrest. The court has asked the CBI to present the material justifying Kejriwal’s arrest.

The Delhi High Court recently stayed Kejriwal’s bail order, stating that the trial court should have recorded its satisfaction with the fulfillment of the twin conditions of section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before granting bail.