A special CBI court in Mumbai has convicted a former Indian Navy officer and a coaching center owner for their involvement in leaking examination papers for the recruitment of lower division clerks (LDCs) in the Navy back in 2010. Both individuals have been sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment.
The two found guilty are Rambir Rawat, who operated a coaching center, and Ramesh Saini, a former naval officer. They were convicted of criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, and using forged documents as genuine. In addition to the prison sentence, each was fined Rs 50,000.
Special Public Prosecutor Sandip Singh argued that the accused engaged in a criminal conspiracy to rig the LDC examination. The investigation revealed that the accused allegedly leaked the question paper and tutored candidates at a lodge in Mumbai. CBI officers raided a Mumbai lodge on the night of September 25-26, 2010, which led to the discovery of incriminating documents, including question papers and cash.
The defense contended that the prosecution's case relied entirely on circumstantial evidence and that the prosecution failed to independently prove the links in the chain and establish a chain of evidence, which conclusively points to the guilt of the accused. However, the court, after reviewing the documents and hearing both sides, determined that the circumstances presented by the prosecution conclusively demonstrated the guilt of Rawat and Saini. The court noted the serious nature of the offense, emphasizing the far-reaching impact of compromising the recruitment process. It stated that such offenses must be dealt with firmly.
Four other individuals accused in the case were acquitted by Special CBI Judge A. V. Kharkar, as the prosecution could not prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The CBI initiated the investigation based on reliable information regarding the rigging of the LDC examination. The special public prosecutor emphasized the serious impact on national security due to compromised recruitment within the Navy.
