Bedi Ram, the MLA from the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, whose name figures in the NEET paper leak case has accused the media of hounding him because he is a Dalit. News that he has been arrested in a similar case in 2006 has been circulating in the media for a while now.
The MLA represents Jakhaniya Vidhan Sabha in Ghazipur. Ram is one among the 18 accused in the case. A Gangster Court in Lucknow is hearing the said case for which charges are to be framed on July 26.
The 2006 paper leak was of the Railway Board, for recruitment to group D posts. Another MLA, Vipul Dubey’s name also figures in the list of accused. Dubey belongs to the Nishad Party. Ram has called out the media for reporting against him.
“I do not deny that there is a non-bailable warrant against me. That is a matter of procedure in the court…some of the 18 are dead. I have been regularly appearing before the court”, said Ram in his constituency today.
“Because I am a Dalit MLA, this news has been televised for 12 hours. This is a conspiracy to defame me, my party, the NDA, the CM and the PM”, Ram said of news about him being arrested in the 2006 case.
He has also dismissed speculation that he is absconding. “If that was so how am I appearing in television channels?”, he said. “Which politician does not have cases against him? Those are false cases. The same has happened with me”, he said. Ram did not shy away from admitting there are a few ongoing cases against him.
Ram had earlier said that he did take money for recruitment. With the heat now on him, Ram has now said that it was a case of deep fake. Ram is also facing charges in paper leak cases in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.