Rajasthan High Court Grants Bail to Alleged Mastermind in SI Paper Leak Case
The Rajasthan High Court has granted bail to Jagdish Vishnoi. He is the main accused in the Sub-Inspector (SI) Recruitment-2021 paper leak case. This decision came from a single judge bench of Justice Chandra Prakash Shrimali. The court issued the order on January 16.
Second Bail Attempt Succeeds After Initial Rejection
This marks Vishnoi's second bail application before the High Court. His first plea faced rejection earlier. Advocate Sudhir Jain represented Vishnoi during the proceedings. Jain argued that the principal accused, Rajesh Khandelwal, already received bail from the Supreme Court.
The court considered several factors in its ruling. Justice Shrimali noted the charges under the special law for exam paper leaks carry a maximum imprisonment of three years. Vishnoi has spent nearly two years in jail already.
Lengthy Trial and Incarceration Period Influenced Decision
The nature of the offences played a role in the bail grant. The court also cited the period of incarceration and the likely delay in concluding the trial. Jain highlighted the case involves 133 accused and around 150 witnesses. This massive scale makes an early conclusion of the trial improbable.
Vishnoi, known within his gang as "Guruji" or the mastermind, has a controversial history. He faces allegations of involvement in paper leaks and cheating cases dating back to 2008.
Previous Bail in Separate Case Did Not Secure Freedom
Interestingly, Vishnoi secured bail in the JEN Recruitment-2020 paper leak case about ten months ago. However, he remained in custody due to his arrest in the SI case. The recent High Court order now changes his legal status.
The bail decision underscores the challenges in expediting large-scale legal proceedings. It also reflects judicial consideration for prolonged detention without trial conclusion.
