Uttarakhand – The Special Investigation Team (SIT) continues to probe the paper leak case involving main accused Khalid Malik and his sister, Sabiya. Both were presented before the district court on Tuesday, where their judicial custody was extended for another 14 days. The SIT informed the court that the investigation is still underway, and further evidence linked to both accused is being collected.
During a recent search of Khalid’s residence in Haridwar, investigators did not find any study material related to competitive exams, raising suspicions about his actual intent. Surprisingly, between 2024 and 2025, Khalid applied for nine different competitive examinations, though he did not appear in five of them. In the few he attended, his performance was notably poor, indicating that he had been relying on unfair means or external help for success rather than merit. The SIT is now focusing on uncovering when and how Khalid attempted to cheat or manipulate these exams. Officials stated that he may soon be taken into custody for detailed interrogation.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh revealed that the search of Khalid’s house led to several important findings. One of the most unusual discoveries was that Khalid had applied for certain examinations for which he did not even meet the minimum educational qualifications. The SIT is now investigating his motive behind applying for such exams without preparation or eligibility. Investigators suspect this could be part of a larger pattern of organized exam manipulation. The team is also expanding its probe to examine Khalid’s contacts over the past two years.
Missing Mobile May Hold Crucial Evidence
One of Khalid’s mobile phones, which he had taken to an examination center, is still missing. According to the police, he formatted the device and discarded it in a train dustbin while evading arrest. His second mobile phone has been recovered, but it was also found to be formatted. Before doing so, Khalid reportedly sent three images of the leaked question paper to his sister, Sabiya, from that phone.
Police forensic experts are currently working to retrieve the deleted data. If successful, it could expose Khalid’s communication network and provide key evidence to strengthen the SIT’s investigation.
