Former HC registrar, three others get bail

The Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday granted bail to Balwinder Kumar Sharma, former high court registrar (recruitment), and three other accused in Haryana Civil Service (judicial) exam leak case of 2017.

Sharma, a suspended additional district and sessions judge rank official, Sushila and Sunita who took the exam and topped in two different categories, and Sunil Kumar, a local Congress leader in Chandigarh, who is accused of roping in other candidates, were granted interim bail by the high court full bench presided over by chief justice Krishna Murari.

The examination for 109 Haryana Civil Service (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 and ordered registration of FIR. Balwinder was arrested in December 2017. The paper was later cancelled.

The high court in its order said that allegations levelled in the FIR are serious. But in view of accused undergoing varying periods of custody and police filing challans against them, it allowed them interim bail.

The court, however, said that they will not hamper the investigation in any manner or try to influence the witnesses. They have been restrained from leaving the country without prior permission. Besides, they will have to surrender their passports before the investigating officer within a week. They shall cooperate in the investigations before the trial court. Sharma, being an official of the court, will not get in touch with any staff of the recruitment cell, the HC ordered.

The police have been asked to apprise the court in case there is breach of conditions by any of the accused.