Bandi Sanjay Kumar, the Telangana BJP President and Lok Sabha MP from Karimnagar constituency, was released from jail on April 7 after being granted bail by a court in Hanumakonda. Kumar was arrested on April 5 on charges of criminal conspiracy and malpractices related to the alleged circulation of Class 10 (SSC) Hindi examination question paper in groups of an instant messaging app. He had filed a bail application, which was accepted by the court after hearing arguments and counter-arguments.
After being released, Kumar demanded that the state government inquire into the paper leak case with a sitting judge and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s son and minister KT Rama Rao should be expelled from the cabinet. He also called for an ex-gratia of Rs one lakh to be announced for each student who suffered due to the question paper leak. He alleged that 30 lakh candidates who appeared for the service commission exam suffered due to the paper leak and accused the state government of trying to divert the issue.
Kumar criticized the Warangal Police Commissioner AV Ranganath and claimed that the police commissioner did not know the difference between paper leak and malpractice. He found fault with the police for not issuing a notice before the arrest and asked in what way he was related to the case when somebody forwarded the leaked question paper to his mobile phone.
Kumar said his party would intensify the agitation against the Telangana State Public Service Commission paper leak issue. Along with Kumar, three others arrested in the case were on April 5 remanded in judicial custody till April 19 by a court in Hanamkonda, and they were lodged in a jail in Karimnagar. A minor boy who had allegedly taken photos of the paper from the exam centre in Hanamkonda after being told to do so by two accused was also apprehended.
In conclusion, Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s release from jail after being granted bail has stirred up a controversy surrounding the paper leak case, with him demanding the state government to take action and make amends for the suffering caused to the students.
