The Delhi High Court has dismissed a plea filed by Dhananjay Nivrutti Lokhande, an accused in relation to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) paper leak case, challenging his arrest.

A division bench comprising Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Ravinder Dudeja rejected the plea, observing that it was an abuse of process of law.

Observing that the plea was “absolutely meritless”, the Bench dismissed the same with costs of Rs. 25,000 to be submitted with the advocates welfare fund.

Lokhande had also sought his immediate release on the ground that he was not supplied a copy of the arrest memo in the case. He was arrested on May 13.

Lokhande had challenged the trial court order passed on August 22 dismissing his application seeking a copy of the arrest memo.

He contended that his arrest was illegal in the absence of an arrest memo. He claimed that the only document in the entire chargesheet record relating to his arrest was a two-page “Personal Search Memo” dated May 13.

Yesterday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed the Court that the grounds of arrest were communicated to Lokhande and that the information was also conveyed telephonically.

The trial is being conducted before the designated fast-track court dealing with “criminal cases arising from paper leaks as well as the use of other unfair means in public examinations”. Special Judge Ajay Gupta had taken cognisance of CBI's final report against 13 accused persons on August 12.

NEET-UG is conducted by the National Testing Agency for medical aspirants. On May 12, the NTA cancelled the NEET-UG held on May 3 for admissions in medical courses amid allegations of paper leak. A re-examination was conducted on June 21.

Dharmendra Pradhan later resigned as education minister over the NEET paper leak row following protests.

Title: Dhananjay Nivrutti Lokhande v. CBI