JEE exam scam: Delhi court extends CBI custody of of Russian hacker till Oct 9

Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court has today granted 3 days additional custody to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to interrogate the Russian national Mikhail Shargin, accused of involvement in the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) scam case. Shargin was sent to a 2- day CBI custody earlier by the Duty Magistrate on October 4.

When he was produced before the court today, CBI said they needed 3 more days to confront him with certain data and that there is a language barrier due to which further time is required.

It was submitted by the Investigating Officer (IO) that the data extracted from the devices of the accused is too voluminous in nature and is being analysed and the accused is required to be confronted with the data extracted from his phone, laptop and external HDD.

Advocates Rohit Bhardwaj and Shravanth Shanker, appearing for the accused,



had opposed the extension of police custody remand, stating that the accused has co-operated in the investigation and already two days PC remand of the accused was granted.

Another issue raised by them was whether he can be asked to provide password of his devices to CBI, as this concerns his right to privacy. It was argued that all the documents have already been given to the agency to examine and the accused is ready to give access to the phones also by removing the passwords.

Considering submissions made by the IO that the accused is required to be confronted with the data, the Court of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate granted a further three-day remand to the IO for the purpose of expediting the investigation.

The accusations against Mikhail include hacking of the software in the JEE Mains exam in which lakhs of students had appeared last.