Vyapam scam: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Chouhan gives in to pressure, asks for CBI probe
Bhopal: Bowing to public outcry, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said that he is requesting the state High Court to order a CBI probe into the Vyapam case, including the large number of deaths of people allegedly linked to the scam.
Chouhan, who has been under opposition attack over the rising death toll, said people wanted to know the truth and it had become imperative that the case be probed by CBI now to put to rest all doubts.
The opposition has alleged that nearly 45 people having links with the Vyapam admission and recruitment scam have died since the investigation into the scandal began in July 2013.
Read: Vyapam scam deaths suggest 'insidious forces' at work: Editors
At least five people, including a journalist covering the scam, have died under mysterious circumstances in last one week.
Addressing a press conference, Chouhan rejected the Congress charge of his involvement in the scam, terming it as "baseless".
"Honouring public sentiments, I will request the high court to order a CBI probe," he said, noting that democracy is run on public acceptability. "The functioning of the government should be beyond any doubt," he said.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear petitions on July 9 seeking a CBI probe into the Vyapam scam.
Read: Trainee sub-inspector dies, but still no CBI
The petitions filed in this regard are of Congress leader Digvijaya Singh and whistleblowers Anand Rai and Ashish Chaturvedi.
Earlier today, a 40-year-old constable, Ramakant Panda was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his home.
Read: Centre too says no to CBI probe
According to TV reports, the constable was questioned by the Madhya Pradesh police's special team investigating the Vyapam scam.
However, police claim that Panda was an alcoholic and under heavy debt, which is why he committed suicide.
On Monday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the Centre could not direct the Madhya Pradesh High Court to hand over the case to the CBI.
Read: Deadly deaths in Vyapam scam: ‘I am a minister yet I am scared,’ says Uma Bharti
Earlier, Chouhan refused for a CBI probe, saying that all deaths should not be linked to the Vyapam scam.
His comments came after 25-year-old trainee sub-inspector Anamika Kushwaha’s body was found in a lake adjacent to the Police Training Academy at Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district headquarters.
She was recruited in the police through an exam conducted by Vyapam, a board that holds tests for recruitment to government jobs and college admissions.
Read: What Vyapam scam is all about
Meanwhile, the main whistleblower in the Vyapam case, Ashish Chaturvedi, claimed that there was a “grave threat” to his life and accused Chouhan of being “directly involved” in the scam, a charge that was rubbished by the CM.
The Opposition has, so far, linked nearly 45 deaths to the scam.
