Assam: Sonitpur Court Denies Bail to USTM Chancellor in Exam Fraud Case

GUWAHATI: An Assam court in Sonitpur district has refused to grant bail to Mahbubul Hoque, the Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), in relation to charges of providing unfair means of examination.

Sonitpur Judicial Magistrate First Class Hriday Jyoti Kashyap rejected Hoque's application for bail after hearing arguments presented by the prosecution and defense.

Hoque, who had appeared before the court through video conference from Tezpur Central Jail, has been booked with several non-bailable offenses based on a complaint lodged in Dhekiajuli.

As per government advocate Munin Barua, the case had been lodged following charges of promising students support to make use of unfair practices in attaining high marks in the examinations.

The case is one of a series of investigations into identical exam malpractice incidents in Assam. Although the Gauhati High Court had earlier granted Hoque bail in two different cases in Sribhumi district, he was again arrested by Sonitpur police on the new charges.

In February, Hoque, and five of his ERD Foundation teachers, who run several schools, were arrested after a report that students from other districts were allowed to take Class 12 CBSE exams with promises of being given undue help.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has vehemently attacked Hoque, saying he was involved in cheating. Sarma indicated that Hoque would be in prison for a long time and associated him with previous charges such as obtaining an OBC certificate fraudulently. The Chief Minister attacked USTM as well, alleging that it had led to the problem of flooding in Guwahati.

While investigations go on, the authorities are adamant about cracking down on irregularities during examinations, upholding the government's intention of ensuring the education system maintains its integrity.

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