GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has approved bail for Mahbubul Hoque, the Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), in connection with an alleged case of malpractice during the CBSE Class 12 Physics examination.
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However, another bail petition filed by Hoque in a separate but related case is set to be heard on Tuesday.
According to Advocate Angshuman Barah, who is representing Hoque in the legal proceedings, the second case carries similar allegations.
Hoque was arrested by Assam Police on February 21 following a complaint lodged in Patharkandi, Sribhumi. The complaint accused him of orchestrating a plan to enable students to use unfair means in the exam. It was further alleged that Hoque accepted payments to secure undue advantages for students appearing for the exam at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Sribhumi, Karimganj district.
After his arrest, Hoque was presented before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Sribhumi on February 24. Prior to the court appearance, authorities escorted him from Karimganj Sadar Police Station to Karimganj Civil Hospital for a routine medical check-up.
On February 25, Hoque and five others—Hiramani Saikia, Bijoy Dutta, Rezzak Ali, Numaan Ahmed, and Imdadur Rahman—were placed under four days of police remand. Following the completion of this remand period, they were produced in court on Sunday at approximately 5 PM. Earlier in the day, Hoque and co-accused Numaan Ahmed had been moved from Dispur Police Station to Karimganj Police Station.
Since the Sribhumi Police did not seek an extension of custody, the court directed that Hoque be transferred to judicial custody.
The investigation centers on allegations that a financial arrangement was made to benefit students from the ERD Group, which accounted for a significant portion of the examinees at the test center. At Kendriya Vidyalaya, a total of 274 students sat for the Physics exam—45 from the host school and 214 from the ERD Group.
Reports indicate that the issue came to light when the promised assistance did not materialize, leading to complaints and subsequent police intervention. The Assam Police’s Special Task Force (STF) launched an inquiry, uncovering suspected misconduct linked to the institution.
