The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to respond to a plea for a special, time-bound investigation into paper leak cases, including the implementation of a ‘standard questionnaire and special investigation procedure’ to ensure speedy trials. A Bench headed by Justice P.S. Narasimha issued the notice to the Union and State governments in response to a petition filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, who is also seeking a direction for the assessment of the entire property of perpetrators and their family members.
The petition, which was triggered by the NEET-UG paper leak on May 3 that affected lakhs of students, suggests that investigations should be held under various laws, including the Prevention of Corruption Act, Prevention of Money Laundering Act, benami and black money laws. Upadhyay, a BJP leader, has also proposed the confiscation of the assets of the perpetrators and their family members. The petition claims that the continued failure of authorities to prevent, investigate, and prosecute those responsible for paper leaks has resulted in an ongoing violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
Despite the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act being in force since June 2024, the petitioner alleges that leaks have continued to rise, while the actual masterminds have evaded scrutiny. The petitioner has also highlighted the lack of Deception Detection Tests (DDT) to locate the actual masterminds behind the paper leaks as a reason for the non-enforcement of the 2024 Act.
