Vyapam scam: Digvijay for CBI probe into 25 deaths

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 30

With the number of dead witnesses and accused in Madhya Pradesh’s Vyapam recruitment scam reaching 25, the Congress has again moved the Supreme Court for a CBI probe into the issue. More than 2,000 people, including high-profile officials, have been arrested so far in connection with the case.

Congress general secretary and former Madhya Pradesh CM Digvijay Singh has filed the PIL demanding a court-monitored CBI investigation into the scam which started with irregular medical admissions in 2006 and spread to other branches of government recruitments.

Singh, whose petition was earlier declined by the SC on grounds that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Madhya Pradesh High Court was already probing the issue, today said he had fresh grounds for approaching the apex court.

“The SIT has said it is working as a post office for the Special Task Force (STF) earlier appointed by the state government to probe the scam. But the STF has confessed that it does not have the expertise or the wherewithal to probe a scam of such immense magnitude,” Singh said.

The Vyapam scam involves 1,000 “admitted irregular recruitments” through fraudulent means by top officials of the MP Professional Exam Board in connivance with the ruling party politicians. CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan has himself admitted to 1,000 recruitments being fraudulent.

“We recently revealed how the CM’s wife Sadhna Singh forwarded a recommendation for recruitment of three persons down the scam chain. All people, except Sadhna Singh, are in jail. Fraud medical admissions have been made but the STF hasn’t even once questioned the Joint Director of Medical Education responsible for the admissions. How can we trust the STF or the SIT?” Singh said.

Two whistleblowers in the scam, fearing for their lives, have also separately moved the SC today.