Congress demands probe monitored by SC into MPPEB scam

Upping the ante against the Shivraj Singh chouhan Government, the Congress on Monday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the high-profile MPPEB scam in Madhya Pradesh, claiming as many as 43 accused and witnesses have died under mysterious circumstances. Party spokesman Tom Vadakkan also said the investigation should be conducted by a Special Investigation Team.

He said, the MPPEB scam, also known as Vyapam scam, was one of the biggest scandals in independent India that needed to be probed by an independent SIT under the direct supervision of the apex court.Vyapam scam is a massive admission and recruitment scandal involving politicians, bureaucrats and middlemen. Several politicians including former Education Minister laxmikant Sharma, a host of officials and scores of aspirants have been arrested in the case.

Congress has even accused Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of complicity in the scam. The party has taken a dim view of the probe ordered by the State Government.The investigation in the scam is being conducted by a Special Task Force of the Madhya Pradesh police under supervision of a High Court-appointed SIT. 

The chorus for a probe into ‘suspicious deaths’ grew after two accused — 40-year-old Dr Rajendra Arya died at Birla Hospital in Gwalior and Narendra Singh Tomar (29), a veterinarian, passed away in an Indore hospital on Sunday. Tomar was lodged in Indore jail.The most high-profile death was that of Shailesh Yadav, son of Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav. Shailesh, 50, who was alleged to have fixed the recruitment of 10 candidates as Grade III teachers, was found dead at his father’s residence in Mall Avenue area on March 25 this year.