Vyapam: MP govt files plea in HC seeking CBI probe

Bhopal/New Delhi, July 7

The Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday filed a plea in the High Court seeking CBI probe into the Vyapam scam, a day after the Centre and BJP disfavoured handing it over to the central agency without a court directive. The Congress, however, insisted that a Supreme Court-monitored CBI probe could alone ensure a “fair” investigation.

Earlier in the day, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said he will recommend to the High Court a CBI probe into the Vyapam scam. Additional Advocate General P Kaurav said government has filed a plea in the High Court in this regard.

"Loktantra lok lajja se chalta hai (public perception is important in democracy). Honouring public sentiments, I will request the high court for a CBI probe," Chouhan said, adding "the functioning of the government should be beyond any doubt."

"I have full respect for both High Court and the Supreme Court and have total faith in the ongoing probe into the Vyapam scam," he said.

In a related development, the Supreme Court today agreed to hear on July 9 the plea of Congress leader Digvijay Singh and three whistleblowers seeking an apex court-monitored CBI probe into the scam.

Singh and whistleblowers — Ashish Chaturvedi, Anand Rai and Prashant Pandey — have also moved the apex court seeking a CBI probe under its supervision.

Chouhan was under mounting pressure from opposition parties, particularly the Congress to order a CBI probe following the death of Arun Sharma, the dean of a Jabalpur medical college probing the scandal on Sunday in Delhi, a day after Akshay Singh, a journalist of the TV Today group on the Vyapam scam trail, mysteriously died minutes after he had interviewed the parents of a deceased girl accused.

At least five people associated with Vyapam, including Sharma and Singh, have died under mysterious circumstances in the last one week.

The opposition has claimed nearly 45 people linked to the scandal in some manner have died so far though the official figures put the "unnatural deaths" at 25. 

Expressing faith in the ongoing investigations being conducted by the Special Task Force of the MP police under the supervision of the high court-appointed Special Investigative Team headed by a retired HC judge, Chouhan deplored the "atmosphere created in the aftermath of unfortunate deaths which have created doubts in the minds of people."              

 Noting that the developments in the case demanded fair answers, he said, "I thought about the matter the whole night...The questions which have been raised need answers. It has become necessary now that CBI investigates the case."                

Asked if he wanted the CBI probe to cover cases of unnatural deaths as well, he said the agency should probe "all aspects".

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had yesterday said the state government cannot order a CBI probe into the scam.

“SIT probe into the scam is on, and the government cannot direct the High Court or the Supreme Court on the issue," he said in Jhabua yesterday, noting the MP High Court and the Supreme Court had already rejected PILs seeking a CBI inquiry.

Chouhan said since the matter got exposed, it was he who had decided to hand over the case to the Special Task Force (STF) for an impartial investigation.

The CM said it was he who had directed bringing all examinations conducted by Vyapam under the ambit of STF probe, including admissions in medical colleges and recruitments for various government jobs.

Even while disposing of a number of PILs seeking a CBI probe earlier, the High Court and Supreme Court expressed satisfaction with the ongoing STF probe, he said.

Chouhan, however, refrained from making any comment on Union Minister Uma Bharti's remark that she too felt "scared" over the deaths.

"She is like my elder sister and a very respected leader.

I respect her a lot. I made no comment against her even when she was not in BJP," he said.

BJP putting roadblocks of lame duck excuses: Cong

Dismissing the MP Chief Minister’s decision to request the HC to conduct a CBI inquiry into the Vyapam scam, the Congress insisted that a Supreme Court-monitored CBI probe could alone ensure a “fair” investigation.

“Latest decision of Shivraj to write to High Court for CBI probe is another attempt to muzzle the truth. Congress rejects it in toto. For a fair probe and justice to victims, Supreme Court-monitored CBI probe is the answer,” party's communication department chief Randeep Surjewala said.

“Time BJP owned up to truth instead of putting repeated roadblocks of lame duck excuses,” he said.

Accusing Chouhan and the BJP leadership of "hoodwinking the truth and attempting to derail investigation", he said the Chief Minister had earlier rejected a SC-monitored CBI probe into the 49 deaths.

“Finance Minister Arun Jaitley asks for an independent probe. Ms Uma Bharti says she fears for life of her supporters. STF chief Chandresh Bhushan says STF officers have concern for their own security", he noted.

The Congress leader charged that all of this was "classic BJP doublespeak to quieten and muddle the truth".

Congress leader Digvijay Singh criticised the Prime Minister's silence on the issue.

“The Prime Minister remains mum in the country, he only tweets about what is happening in Tunisia, Algeria,” he said.

Singh, who has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe in the scam, said he would request the apex court to monitor the probe on a weekly basis as it monitored the 2G scam.

Asked whether the Chief Minister should resign, Singh said if Chouhan was in the Congress party, he would have been removed long back.

"Moral standards of Congress and BJP are different," he stated. Replying to a question, he said the "needle of suspicion" was on the chief minister.  — PTI