Court rejects bail for USTM Chancellor Mahbubul Hoque in exam scam; fresh cases emerge

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 18, 2025

A Sonitpur district court on Tuesday rejected the bail plea of USTM Chancellor Mahbubul Hoque, who was arrested in connection with an alleged exam fraud case registered at Dhekiajuli police station.

The latest case was registered based on an FIR lodged by Mukshed Ali, who alleged that his son, Sheikh Farid, had to pay a Rs 2 lakh bribe to Hoque for benefits under USTM’s Vision 50 scheme. Ali further claimed that Farid was taken to Patharkandi with false promises of assistance in using unfair means during the Class 12 final exams to secure higher marks.

Hoque was brought from Patharkandi to Dhekiajuli on March 12 and produced in court on March 13, where he was placed under judicial custody. On Tuesday, he appeared virtually before First Class Magistrate Hirakjyoti Kashyap, who denied his bail after hearing arguments from both sides.

Reports indicate that new cases related to similar allegations have been registered against Hoque in multiple locations across Assam.

Hoque was rearrested on March 12 by Dhekiajuli police shortly after securing bail from the Gauhati High Court in another case (Case No. 55/2025) filed at Patharkandi police station in Sribhumi district. He has been charged under Sections 111(4)/318(4)/316(5)/336(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 11(1) of the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

On March 12, the Gauhati High Court granted Hoque bail in the Patharkandi case and prevented his arrest in three other cases registered in Gossaigaon, Kokrajhar, and Barpeta.

Hoque was first arrested on February 22 following complaints from 274 students who appeared for the CBSE Class 12 Physics exam at Central Public School, Patharkandi—a school run by the ERD Foundation, where he is the chairman. The High Court granted him bail in that case on March 3.

The controversy centers around USTM’s “Vision 50 Programme,” under which 214 students, mostly from outside Assam, were allegedly enrolled at Central Public School without attending classes. Reports suggest that these students were coached at USTM’s Guwahati campus instead. Allegations surfaced that they were promised unfair assistance during the exam, but were ultimately left stranded, sparking outrage and protests.

Besides Hoque, five others—Hiramani Saikia, Bijoy Dutta, Rezzak Ali, Numaan Ahmed, and Imdadur Rahman—have also been arrested in connection with the case.