PGI paper leak: Statement recorded in court

CHANDIGARH: In the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research's (PGIMER's) MD/MS entrance examination paper leak scam, the CBI sleuths on Thursday produced one of the alleged beneficiaries in the court and recorded his statement under section 164 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
This has made the case of prosecution stronger, Venkatesh B, a scam beneficiary hailing from Hyderabad, has turned an approver for the CBI in this case.Venkatesh, who has done MBBS, had appeared for the MS exam in Chandigarh on November 10, when this case was busted.
"He has recorded his statement in the court as CBI's approver. It has strengthened the prosecution's case. Right now, we could not disclose anything about what he had told the court as it could hamper our probe," said a CBI official here.
Earlier on November 26, CBI had recorded the statement of another beneficiary Krishna Reddy, who had also become CBI's approver in this case.
According to reliable sources, Venkatesh had told CBI that the deal was struck for Rs 40 lakh with Kotta Gangadhar Reddy (one of the kingpin). He had already paid him Rs. 5 lakh and had to pay another installment of Rs 35 lakh after clearing the examination.So far CBI had questioned around a dozen beneficiaries, in this scam, at their office in Sector 30 here. But till now they have not arrested any of them.
MD/MS entrance exam leak scam had shocked the city on November 10 and since then police have arrested 16 accused, including eight women. At present all of them are in judicial custody and are lodged at high-security Burail jail here.