SIT zeroes in on three more accused

CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh Police special investigation team (SIT) probing Haryana Civil Service (HCS) (judicial) paper leak case of July 2017 has zeroed in on three more persons involved.

During the resumed hearing of the issue on Wednesday, the five-judge bench presided over by chief justice Krishna Murari, was told by senior advocate RS Rai, appearing for UT, that three more suspected persons have been nominated as accused. However, they are still at large. Other suspects’ role is still being examined, Rai told the court. The names of these three accused were not revealed during the hearing but was part of sealed cover report submitted by the SIT to five judges’ bench.

The examination for 109 HCS (judicial) posts was conducted on July 16 last year. Following a petition in August 2017, an HC probe panel had found that the paper was leaked. Former high court registrar (recruitment), Balwinder Kumar Sharma, and two women were named as the main accused. The police have now filed a chargesheet against the three.

The police have so far arrested six persons and filed challan against all of them. However, investigation is still underway.

Other members on the bench monitoring the investigation are justice Arun Palli, who sits in division bench with justice Murari and three judges hearing the matter earlier, justice Rajesh Bindal, justice Rajan Gupta and justice GS Sandhawalia.

The SIT also submitted a detailed report on an academy where some candidates had studied. The academy is run by former judicial officer SS Bhardwaj convicted in a corruption case. The SIT has given clean chit to the academy.

Balwinder Sharma had filed an application in June before the three judge bench and questioned as to how this bench was constituted and further questioned as to how same bench directed registration of an FIR against Sharma, is monitoring the probe. Following this, a five judges’ bench was constituted. The court has now sought fresh status report by August 16.

NAMES OF THE THREE ACCUSED WERE NOT REVEALED DURING THE HEARING BUT WAS PART OF SEALED REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE SIT TO FIVE JUDGES’ BENCH