JBT-TGT paper leak scam: Accused get bail as police fail to file chargesheet within 90 days of arrest

Mithilesh Pandey alias Guruji.

THE PRIME accused in the JBT-TGT paper leak scam, Mithilesh Pandey alias Guruji, and his accomplice, were granted bail as the UT Police failed to file the charge sheet against the accused within the stipulated period of 90 days. According to reports, three accused in the scam – Shiv Bahadur Singh of Varanasi, Shailesh Kumar of Azamgarh and Sanjay Srivastva alias Mithilesh Pandey alias Guruji of Lucknow – were arrested by a joint team of Punjab Police and Telangana Police on May 17.

On July 7, Chandigarh Police brought scam mastermind, Mithilesh Pandey alias Guruji, on production warrant from Punjab Police after he was held by the Punjab vigilance wing. After being brought on production warrant, the accused in the JBT-TGT paper leak scam, Sanjay Kumar Srivastva alias Mithilesh Pandey alias Guruji, reportedly confessed to having provided the leaked question paper to 250-300 candidates, who successfully cleared the written test for JBT-TGT teachers in January-February 2015, said police.

After arresting Guruji, the Chandigarh Police had to file a charge sheet against the accused within 90 days of his arrest and that paved the way for Guruji and Shailesh Kumar to get bail. Meanwhile, Shiv Bahadur Singh, another accused, also applied for bail on similar grounds on Saturday. The court has sent a notice asking police to reply at the next hearing on October 9.

The JBT-TGT paper, held in January-February 2015, was leaked and sold to around 25 candidates for Rs 7 lakh each.