Biggest mess: Medical college admissions

Bhopal, July 6

In the long list of deaths related to Madhya Pradesh's Vyapam (Vyavsayik Pareeksha Mandal) scam, the biggest aspect concerns medical college admissions. Dr Arun Sharma, dean of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College (Jabalpur), who was heading a probe panel into the irregularities, died under mysterious circumstances on Sunday. Almost a year back, his colleague Dr DK Sakalley died from burns. 

GS Patel, the dean of Gajaraja Medical College in Gwalior, had raised questions about the security in a meeting six months ago. Patel told IANS that at that time he was concerned about the security because students were then being expelled from the college. A large number of accused and witnesses linked to the scam - a massive admission and recruitment racket involving several middlemen, medical college owners, bureaucrats and politicians - have died so far.

At least two Special Task Force officers involved in the probe have also expressed threat to their lives. The STF is being monitored by a High Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT). The SIT is headed by a former judge justice Chandresh Bhushan.

A whistleblower, Ashish Chaturvedi, today said he has received threats to life from those allegedly involved in the scandal and demanded adequate security.

The 26-year-old said he moves around on a cycle and the Personal Security Officer (PSO) provided to him follows him on another cycle. Most of the time, he gets held up in road traffic or is way behind him, exposing him to possibility of attack.

The whistle-blower said his PSO had recently overheard a conversation at a food joint where someone said if he (Chaturvedi) appears in the court as a witness against the accused, they will "cut him to pieces."

Vyapam conducts medical and engineering entrance exams as well as recruitment for certain categories of state government jobs. Large scale irregularities were unearthed in various Vyapam exams in July 2013 and cases were registered.

Former minister Lakshmikant Sharma, former exam controller of Vyapam Pankaj Trivedi and many senior officials and political leaders are accused in Vyapam scam in which a case has been registered against Governor Ramnaresh Yadav as well. — Agencies

Whistleblower seeks adequate security      

Bhopal: A whistleblower of the Vyapam scam, Ashish Chaturvedi, on Monday said he has received threats to life from those allegedly involved in the scandal and demanded adequate state or central security. "I have been receiving threats after I exposed the scam some years ago. I have filed a petition in the Supreme Court in the Dental and Medical Admission Test scam (related to admission in private medical and dental colleges). I have also demanded security as I am receiving threats from those involved in the scam," Chaturvedi said from Gwalior where he is studying. PTI

Sordid saga of fraud and deaths

Over 40 people linked to the scam have reportedly died since 2013. Over 2,000 have been arrested 

The Indore bench of MP High Court served notices on Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) and MCI following a PIL filed by parents of some students

Over 300 ineligible candidates managed to get into the merit list 

Complaints of fraud in pre-medical test surfaced in 2009 but in 2013, a major scam was unearthed involving several officials and politicians

Kingpin of the racket, Dr. Jagdish Sagar, was arrested. Also detained were Ex-Education Minister Laxmikant Sharma, MPPEB's exam controller Pankaj Trivedi, MPPEB's system analysts Nitin Mahendra and Ajay Sen and state PMT's exam in-charge CK Mishra

Cong’s seven posers to Chouhan

1 How can a mammoth scam compromising the careers of 76 lakh students who took 167 exams from 2008 to 2013 continue without the complicity of Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan?

2 Chouhan knew of the scam since July 2009. Why didn't he stop it?

3 Can Chouhan explain the criminal delay into state-level enquiries in the scam which thrived?

4 Prime accused are Chouhan's associates: an ex cabinet minister, Chouhan's private secretary, MP BJP treasurer. How come Chouhan was never questioned by STF or SIT?

5 The main scam relates to forgery in medical admissions. Chouhan was MP medical education minister from Dec 2008 to March 2012. Why wasn't he questioned?

6 people related to Vyapam have died mysteriously. Why is Chouhan escaping a CBI probe?

7 How can an independent probe happen with Chouhan around considering STF officers have said they too are afraid for their lives?