UP Police Exam Paper Leak: Allahabad HC Grants Bail to Monu Sharma
Last week, the Allahabad High Court granted bail to Monu Sharma, also known as Monu Pandit, who was previously detained for allegedly attempting to manipulate the Uttar Pradesh police constable examination and leaking the question papers earlier this year.
Court’s Decision: Justice Sameer Jain of the High Court granted bail, emphasizing that no incriminating evidence was found in Sharma’s possession. Additionally, his co-accused, Monu Kumar and Rajneesh Ranjan, had already been released on bail by the High Court.
Criminal History Considered: Although Sharma has a criminal history with four other cases, the court noted that he had been granted bail in all of them. All the offenses are triable by a Magistrate of the First Class. Sharma has been in custody since April 5, 2024, which contributed to the decision to grant bail.
Charges and Allegations: Sharma was charged under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, and 34 of the IPC for allegedly leaking the question paper of the Uttar Pradesh Constable Recruitment and Promotion examination, scheduled for February 17 and 18, 2024.
Background of the Case: Candidates who appeared for the exam claimed that the paper was available for purchase at prices ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh, with some candidates reportedly obtaining the paper 8-12 hours before the exam.
In December 2023, the Uttar Pradesh Government announced 60,244 openings for police constable positions, attracting over 48 lakh aspirants. The written test was conducted at over 2300 centers across 75 districts. However, due to the allegations of paper leaks and irregularities, the Uttar Pradesh government decided to cancel the examination.
Case Details:
- Case Title: Monu Sharma @ Monu Pandit vs. State of U.P.
- Case Citation: 2024 LAW (ALL) 01
- Click here to download order
