Vyapam scam: After '45 deaths', Congress guns for CBI probe, CM Chouhan reluctant

Bhopal/New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan faced more heat on Monday over Vyapam scam after a woman trainee sub-inspector recruited by the state board was found dead in a lake, with Congress demanding his immediate sacking and an impartial probe.

Adding to the string of deaths since the past two days, the body of trainee sub-inspector Anamika Sikarwar (25) was found in a lake adjacent to the Police Training Academy at Sagar district headquarters in Madhya Pradesh.

It came after the unexplained death of journalist Akshay Singh who was covering Vyapam scam in Jhabua while Jabalpur Medical College Dean Arun Sharma, probing fake examinees, was found dead in a hotel at Dwarka in south-west Delhi.

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Sagar City Superintendent of Police Gautam Solanki said they suspect Anamika's death to be a case of suicide. She was selected as a sub-inspector in an exam conducted by Vyapam but police said that her selection has nothing to do with Vyapam scam and she was not a suspected beneficiary.

The Chief Minister quickly denied that the incident was linked to the Vyapam probe.

"It is a sad and unfortunate incident. But with all responsibility I say that there is no connection of that unfortunate incident with Vyapam or its probe. And it is not fair to link all such unfortunate incidents with Vyapam," he said.

Congress, which has sought a Supreme Court-monitored CBI probe, stepped up its attack on Chouhan, demanding that he be sacked to allow an impartial investigation and said that he cannot escape responsibility for the "45 deaths".

Read: Medical college dean linked to Vyapam scam found dead in hotel room in Delhi

"Shivraj Singh Chouhan should be sacked and an impartial probe should be done in the Vyapam scam," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said in New Delhi.

Congress spokesperson P C Chacko said that there are serious allegations against people close to Chouhan besides the family itself.

"The CM should ask for a CBI probe into the matter if he feels that he is in the clear," Chacko said. Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh alleged that the death of the woman trainee sub-inspector was linked to the scam.

"Training Cop recruited through Vyapam commits suicide in Sagar Police Academy MP. 46th or 47th (sic)?," he tweeted.

Read: Vyapam scam: Trainee cop found dead, Congress demands Madhya Pradesh CM's sacking

The reference was to mysterious deaths of 45 persons since the massive scam in recruitment by Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB), known by its Hindi acronym 'Vyapam', came to light.

TV journalist Akshay Singh had died on Saturday under mysterious circumstances soon after he had interviewed the parents of a girl who was found dead after her name figured in the massive admission and recruitment scandal. Dean Arun Sharma was found dead yesterday.

Read: Vyapam scam: No 'foul play' in journalist's death, claims medical officer; CM assures of fair probe