2 MORE HELD, ABSCONDING ACCUSED GETS INTERIM BAIL

CHANDIGARH: The VB has arrested two more persons for their alleged involvement in the selective leak of question papers to candidates appearing the selection test for 682 posts in the department of local government. The arrested include Amandeep Singh, a resident of Bathinda, who allegedly got a job through the same process in Punsup last year. He went on to allegedly become a conduit for the later examinations. The VB has recovered `40 lakh from him.

The other person arrested has been identified as Amit Saggar of Malout, who is working as a junior assistant in the water supply and sanitation department. He used to allegedly contact candidates and fix their meeting with conduits who were in touch with those leaking the papers.

A total of five persons have been arrested since the VB registered the FIR on April 6. Those arrested earlier include Sandeep Singh, a candidate who allegedly bought the leaked paper from a gang operating in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and later sold it to other candidates. Ajay Kumar of Sonepat and Ajay Sharma of Malout have also been arrested for accessing the leaked paper.

Meanwhile, the Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday granted interim bail to Khushwant Singh, one of the accused in the case. He has been on the run since the registration of the case. It is alleged that Khushwant, who was himself a candidate in the examination, accessed the leaked paper and also sold it to other candidates.

The state government failed to submit a reply on Thursday on the petition filed by Khushwant on May 17. The high court bench of justice Jaswant Singh posted the matter for further hearing on July 19 and directed the government that in case of arrest, Khushwant be released on bail. VB sources said the government did not submit a reply as it did not receive the notice.