Jaipur: The Supreme Court Monday revoked the interim bail of former Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RBSE) member Babulal Katara, a key accused in the 2021 sub-inspector exam paper leak and teacher recruitment paper leak cases.A bench of Justice Deepankar Dutta and Justice Satish Chand Sharma withdrew the relief after considering objections raised by the Rajasthan govt and reviewing material placed on record. Katara had been granted interim bail on Feb. 9. The apex court Monday said there were sufficient grounds to withdraw that relief, particularly considering the state’s counter affidavit. Appearing for the Rajasthan govt, Additional Advocate General Shiv Mangal Sharma opposed continuation of the bail and told the court that Katara had allegedly concealed his criminal antecedents. Sharma said around five cases were pending against him, including one linked to the Enforcement Directorate. The bail had been granted in connection with the teacher recruitment exam paper leak case, in which an FIR was registered in 2022 at Bekariya police station in Udaipur under IPC Sections 420 and 120B, along with provisions of the Rajasthan Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment Examinations) Act, 2022. According to the state, Katara is also facing other criminal cases, including one at Sukher police station in Udaipur and another with the Rajasthan Police’s Special Operations Group in Jaipur. The state said these cases involve allegations of cheating, forgery, offences under the Rajasthan Public Examination Act, and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act. Sharma also told the court that proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, had been initiated by the Enforcement Directorate in Jaipur. The state argued that despite being in custody and facing prosecution in multiple cases, Katara did not disclose these material facts while seeking bail. After hearing submissions from both sides and examining the pleadings, the apex court revoked the interim bail.
