Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 15: A local court today accepted one of the accused as approver in the infamous Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE)’s paper leakage scam. The approver told the court that as many as 50 candidates were selected for MBBS course fraudulently.
Farooq Ahmad Itoo son of Asadullah Itoo resident of Darigund Sriguphwara, Bijbehara, district Anantnag today told the court that around 40 candidates purchased the Common Entrance Test (CET)-2012 papers and were selected for the MBBS course in Government Medical College Srinagar in 2012.
Itoo’s application for pardon was accepted by the Special Judge Anti-Corruption Mohan Lal Manhas. The court order reads: “The application preferred by accused…for tendering pardon to him has been accepted and allowed by this court…”
Itoo in his statement before the court stated that he was close friend of the main accused the former BOPEE chairman, Mushtaq Ahmad Peer and hatched a conspiracy with him to sell the answer papers along with their keys of CET-2012 for Rs 60 lakh to candidates.
Itoo told Court that he paid Rs 30 lakh in advance to Peer and managed selection of nine candidates to MBBS course in 2012. The candidates include Mushtaq Ahmad Lone, Khursheed Ahmad Dar, Naveed Hussain, Yasir Yusuf Dar, Yasir Yusuf Hajam, Waheedul Rehman, Bazila Bilal, Amira Shakeel. Itoo told the court that after the selection of these candidate to MBBS course, he paid the remaining Rs 30 lakh to Peer.
Itoo said that he struck a deal of Rs 70 lakh with his friend Sajjad Ahmad Bhat for sale of the papers but Sajjad only paid him Rs 8 lakh and sold the papers to as many as 40 candidates who were selected for MBBS course.
The court order says that it appears that it is a criminal conspiracy which rests upon circumstantial evidence and some facts will remain unfolded to complete chain of events.
The court order says: “…In the absence of sufficient evidence in the case, I consider it necessary in the interest of justice, that one of the accused may be made approver in the case. In my considered opinion Itoo seems to be fit and suitable person for this purpose, as he is willing to accept the tender of pardon.”
The judge tendered pardon to Itoo on the condition of his making true and full disclosure of all the facts and circumstances.
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