Pioneer In Short
Fast-Track NEET hearing deferred
The first hearing in the designated fast-track court for the NEET-UG paper leak case was adjourned on Monday after no representative of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) appeared to oppose bail pleas filed by accused Dinesh Biwal and Vikas Biwal. Special Judge Anu Grover Baliga noted that no prosecutor was present despite the matter being listed. On the accused’s counsel’s request, the court adjourned the hearing to August 3 and directed the Director of Prosecution to depute a public prosecutor. Judge Baliga took charge of the newly designated court on Saturday after the Delhi High Court notified it as a Specially Designated Fast Track Court to hear offences under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, following the Centre’s decision to expedite paper leak cases.
On Friday, the previous court had extended the judicial custody of all 13 accused till August 6 and rejected the bail plea of paediatrician Dr Manoj Bhagwanrao Shirure, observing that the investigation prima facie indicated he was an active member of an organised paper leak syndicate. The NEET-UG examination held on May 3 was cancelled over alleged paper leaks, with a re-examination conducted on June 21.
FSSAI cracks down on energy drinks
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has given beverage companies 90 days to remove the term “energy drink” from product labels, refusing to grant any reprieve after meeting industry representatives, sources said. The regulator had issued notices on July 1 to six brands - Red Bull, PepsiCo’s Adrenaline Rush, Reliance Consumer Products’ Campa Energy Gold Boost, Sting, Hell Energy and Coca-Cola-backed Monster - for alleged misbranding and misleading claims. FSSAI has maintained that no standards exist for the “energy drink” category and that product branding cannot use the descriptor.
It has also barred functional or therapeutic claims such as boosting energy, enhancing focus or relieving weakness under the Food Safety and Standards Act. Industry representatives sought additional time to exhaust existing packaging stocks, prompting the 90-day compliance window.
Separately, FSSAI suspended the licence of Westend Agro Products Pvt Ltd after inspections found alleged violations, including alteration of manufacturing and expiry dates, batch numbers and misleading label declarations. The action followed a complaint alleging fraudulent relabelling and sale of misbranded food products. The regulator said Westend Agro Products and Westend Corporation were operating from the same premises when the violations were detected.
