JEE Main 2021 scam: Delhi court extends CBI custody of Russian hacker till Oct 9

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

Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court has extended Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody of the Russian national arrested in JEE Main 2021 paper leak case till October 9. Russian hacker Mikhail Shargin allegedly aided cheating by 820 students by manipulating the online system in Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Main 2021.The court granted additional custody to the CBI to interrogate the Russian national Mikhail Shargin. He was sent to two-day CBI custody earlier by the Duty Magistrate on October 4.

When Shargin was produced before the court, the CBI said they needed three more days to confront him with certain data and that there was a language barrier due to which further time was 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 and laptop. 

Advocates Rohit Bhardwaj and Shravanth Shanker, appearing for the accused, had opposed the extension of police custody remand, stating that the accused has cooperated in the investigation and already two days police remand of the accused was granted. Another issue raised by them was whether he can be asked to provide password of his devices to the CBI, as this concerns his right to privacy. It was argued that all 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.

Read more: 

• Arrested Russian hacker helped 820 cheat in JEE Main 2021
• JEE Main 2021 scam: CBI arrests Russian national