Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court on Monday granted bail to Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), in a case related to alleged CBSE exam anomalies.
On February 21, Assam Police apprehended Mahbubul Hoque after a complaint was filed in Patharkandi, Sribhumi, alleging he received payment to assist in unfair practices during the CBSE Class 12 Physics examination.
However, the hearing for his bail plea in a second case is scheduled for tomorrow.
On February 24, he was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Sribhumi district. Prior to his court appearance, he was taken from Karimganj Sadar Police Station to Karimganj Civil Hospital for a medical examination.
On February 25, Mahbubul Hoque and five others—Hiramani Saikia, Bijoy Dutta, Rezzak Ali, Numaan Ahmed, and Imdadur Rahman—were remanded to four days of police custody.
After completing their remand period, authorities produced them before the court on Sunday around 5 pm.
Earlier that day, authorities transferred Hoque and co-accused Numaan Ahmed from Dispur Police Station to Karimganj Police Station.
Since Sribhumi Police did not request a further remand, the court ordered Hoque’s transfer to judicial custody.
It is learned that a total of 274 students appeared for the Physics exam at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Assam’s Sribhumi (Karimganj) district, including 45 from the school and 214 from the ERD Group.
It is alleged that a financial arrangement was made to assist ERD Group students during the examination. However, the situation at the exam centre turned chaotic when the promised assistance was not delivered.
ALSO READ: Assam police arrested USTM Chancellor Mahbubul Hoque over alleged irregularities in CBSE exam
The police and STF launched an investigation after complaints surfaced about the institution’s involvement in malpractice.
