Over two decades after 2003 CAT paper leak, two CBI cases against Ranjit ‘Don’ remain pending in courts

More than two decades after the 2003 Common Admission Test (CAT) paper leak, two Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases against Ranjit Singh alias Ranjit “Don” — described as an “education mafia” figure in some media reports — remain pending before courts in Delhi and Patna. The Patna case is at the trial stage, while the proceedings in the other case are yet to reach that point.

It was on November 22, 2003, that the Delhi Police Crime Branch received a tip-off about the CAT paper leak and its sale, a day ahead of the examination. A police officer contacted one intermediary, who agreed to sell the paper.

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Further investigation led them to an examination candidate and they found that those willing to buy the solved question paper were being taken to a Mahipalpur hotel in South-West Delhi. The police were pursuing various leads when they discovered that the CBI had raided the place.

Based on its findings, the police arrested several accused persons. They alleged that Kumar Suman Singh alias Ranjit, already arrested by the CBI, was the mastermind behind the leak.

The 2003 CAT paper leak led to the cancellation of the examination. This was the case which brought Ranjit, who belongs to Bihar’s Nalanda district, into national focus. As alleged by the probe agency, he had brought his associates to Delhi for arranging candidates.

In the Delhi case, the CBI submitted its chargesheet in early 2004. The agency stated that it initially received information about the suspected roles of Ranjit and his aides in pilfering the paper and delivering it at the Mahipalpur hotel to the candidates.

During a surprise check at the hotel, the CBI allegedly found Arun Kumar Sinha, Ranjit, Manoj Kumar, Hari Shankar Chaudhary along with Sanish Kumar, Proful Chandra Jha, Anurag Thakur, and K. Rishi in two rooms. Different sections of the question paper were seized allegedly from Ranjit’s possession. The agency also recorded statements of candidates, alleging that ₹2 lakh to ₹4 lakh were demanded from them.

Printed in Mumbai

The CAT 2003 paper had been printed at the IBPS press in Mumbai. The CBI alleged that Arun and Hari Shankar had visited Mumbai on October 27, 2003, and met accused Sanjeev Kumar, then a daily-wage worker at the press, who handed over the question paper to Arun in a Thane house. A sum of ₹18 lakh was allegedly paid to Sanjeev’s father Yogendra Prasad and ₹3.25 lakh to him in Mumbai.

Arun then took the help of one Mohammed Shahin for solving the question paper, as per the CBI, which chargesheeted Ranjit and several others. In this case, “argument on charge” started in July 2019 before a Delhi court and the further necessary proceedings are under way. The next date of hearing is on July 28. The chargesheets submitted by the Delhi Police against another set of accused, but including Ranjit, have been clubbed.

In March 2004, the CBI had filed a chargesheet against Ranjit and others in the second case related to alleged conspiracy, cheating, pilferage, and sale of college admission tests. It is being tried before a Patna court. The next date of hearing is on August 21.