Chethan.Kumar@timesofindia.comBengaluru: As India debates tougher laws and fast-track courts (FTCs) to deal with alleged NEET irregularities, the 2006 RGUHS PG medical entrance exam paper leak case has not gone to trial yet.Two decades on, the accused vice-chancellor and registrar have long left office. The 16 candidates named as beneficiaries have built their medical careers.Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences conducted Post-Graduate Entrance Test (PGET) on Feb 12, 2006. As per CBI chargesheet, the candidates who had scored poorly in MBBS qualifying exams suddenly topped the PGET, stoking fears of malpractices.After students protested, a three-member state committee was set up.
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On April 25, 2006, the case was referred to CBI. In 2008, the agency filed chargesheet naming vice-chancellor (VC) and registrar as accused No. 1 and No. 2, along with 16 candidates for cheating and criminal breach of trust.The VC sought discharge from the case in 2015, arguing he had no operational role in setting or distributing the papers — a task, he said, entrusted to the registrar. In 2020, both CBI special court and high court refused to discharge him.The case began before a special CBI court, not a fast-track court. S Balan, one of the advocates in the case, told TOI: “Around 2015-16, the case went to a fast-track court. It’s difficult to prove such cases. There are so many people involved. In the RGUHS case, one of the accused reportedly turned approver.”Advocate KBK Swamy, a trial lawyer of four decades not linked to this case, said “fast-track” tags rarely deliver fast justice. “Investigations don’t happen in a timely manner… The entire support system needs to be empowered, and they don’t do that.”—–For Graphic■ Oct 11, 2005: RGUHS notifies a committee to conduct PGET; HI Hukkeri named chairman■ Feb 12, 2006: PGET held; papers printed in 8 series, dispatched in sealed trunks■ Feb 17, 2006: PGET results declared■ Mar 3-4, 2006: Convocation held; student groups allege low MBBS scorers topped PGET; protests hit national press■ Mar 2006: State govt forms 3-member inquiry committee■ Apr 25, 2006: Karnataka govt formally refers case to CBI■ 2008: CBI files charge sheet against then VC PS Prabhakaran, then registrar Hukkeri & 16 candidates; case begins before a CBI special court■ 2015: Many accused file discharge application under CrPC■ Jan 27, 2020: CBI special court rejects discharge pleas of all accused who sought one■ 2023: HC refuses to discharge accused
