Vyapam scam: Deaths seem to be 'abnormal' but not 'mysterious', says SIT chief probing case

23:23 IST Tuesday, 7 July 2015

The series of deaths of those associated with the Vyapam scam do not look 'mysterious' but come forth as 'abnormal', the chief of Special Investigation Team (SIT) monitoring the probe into the case said on Tuesday.

Justice (retired) Chandresh Bhushan told TV news channels that he has asked the Special Task Force (STF) constituted to probe the admission and recruitment scam to "enquire" into these cases and tell the SIT how "these fellows have died".

Meanwhile, a 3-member panel is set to examine the scribe Akshay Singh's viscera at AIIMS.

22:11 IST Tuesday, 7 July 2015

In controversial remarks, Law Minister DV Sadananda Gowda on Tuesday termed the Vyapam scam as a "silly issue" on which Prime Minister Narendra Modi need not comment but shortly later retracted saying he was referring to the Lalit Modi row.

19:32 IST Tuesday, 7 July 2015

Another accused in the Vyapam scam, OP Shukla, was taken to hospital on Tuesday after he fell sick in the jail.

Shukla was an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to former Madhya Pradesh Education Minister Laxmikant Sharma.

17:00 IST Tuesday, 7 July 2015

Congress has dismissed MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's decision to request the High Court to conduct a CBI inquiry into the Vyapam scam, insisting 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.

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On Tuesday, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed a press conference, where he recommended CBI probe in the Vyapam scam.

 He said that he has full faith in the probe done by STF and since HC is currently monitoring the case,  the state government has no connection to the case now. 

Chouhan said  that he has full faith in the judiciary of the country. Madhya Pradesh CM said on the wake of death of some individuals including that of a journalist, questions were raised about why CBI has not been not handed over the case. To allay the air of uncertainty, Chouhan said that he is recommending a CBI probe in the Vyapam scam and mysterious deaths which have been linked to the case. CM said that he is bowing down to public opinion regarding this case. He said that in Supreme Court too, the state government will advocate for a CBI probe. However he rejected suggestion that he has been asked by PM Modi to recommend a CBI probe. Chouhan said that he thought long and hard and realised this will be the best for his state. 

He also rejected Congress demand for resignation.  The Supreme Court on Tuesday 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 Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh.

"We can fix all the matters together. It will come on July 9," a bench comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and justices  Arun Kumar Mishra and Amitava Roy said. Singh and whistleblowers -- Ashish Chaturvedi, Dr Anand Rai and Prashant Pandey  -- have moved the apex court seeking a CBI probe under its supervision.

Union Minister Uma Bharti on Monday night said she is "scared" by the number of deaths associated with the Vyapam scam in  Madhya Pradesh and said there is "panic" in the state due to these deaths. "There is panic in Madhya Pradesh due to the deaths. I am scared for the lives of people connected to me. I am a minister  but still I am scared. I will convey my fears to CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan," Bharti, a former Chief Minister of Madhya 

Pradesh, was quoted as having told India Today TV. Congress has claimed there have been 46 deaths in connection with the  admission and recruitment scam since it broke out two years back.

With PTI inputs