PATNA/NEW DELHI, Aug. 3 -- A key accused in the NEET question paper leak case has secured bail after the Central Bureau of Investigation failed to file a chargesheet within the mandatory 90-day period, officials aware of the matter said. Sanjeev Singh alias Lutan Mukhia was granted bail by a special CBI court on Friday, though he remains in custody due to five separate cases, including three investigated by Bihar police's Economic Offences Unit (EoU). Justice Sunil Kumar of the special CBI court accepted arguments from Mukhia's counsel that the investigating agency had failed to meet the statutory deadline for filing charges in the case that sparked nationwide controversy in 2024. CBI officials in New Delhi, however, disputed characterisations of the development as a failure, claiming Mukhia was "never wanted" in their investigation. "Did we ever say he is the mastermind in our case? Did we ever mention his name in previous chargesheets or statements?" said a senior CBI officer who requested anonymity. "Mukhiya was arrested by Bihar police and was their accused in other exam papers' leaks." The officer said the CBI's brief custody of Mukhia in April was merely "to rule out any possibility of his involvement" in the NEET-2024 paper leak from Oasis School in Hazaribagh. The federal agency has filed five chargesheets naming 45 people in the NEET 2024 investigation, including key accused Baldev Kumar and Aman Singh. It has shared details of beneficiaries and medical students who acted as "solvers" with the National Testing Agency and the education ministry. The CBI also found no involvement of NTA officials in the paper leak.htc...