The recent deaths of those prominently involved into the Vyapam scandal has drawn all the public focus on the case and the actions of Madhya Pradesh government, which are not so effective. The deaths, happening in succession, have explicitly emerged as a mystery and not a mere coincidence.
And now that the scandal has taken a bloody turn, it has become nothing but essential for everyone to know the nitty-gritties of the scam.
1. What is this scam exactly all about?
The Vyapam scam pertains to manipulation in the selection process for government jobs conducted by the MP Professional Examination Board. It involves Madhya Pradesh “Vyavsayik Pareeksha Mandal” (Vyapam) which conducts tests for professional courses and recruitment to various posts. Officials, businessmen and high-notch politicians are stated to be involved in putting up “proxy examinees” on basis of which candidates were admitted and recruited.
2. The ever increasing death toll intensifying the mystery.
One after the other, people variously linked with the Vyapam scam, are dying. The mystery deepens with every new death reported even as the probe agencies struggle to unravel it. A cursory perusal shows that not only have candidates died but also dummy aspirants as also those probing the scam. The MP government on June 25 admitted in the high court that 25 accused have died. However, the Times of India’s investigations have reported the death toll at 46.
3. The actual probe-
Initially, the MP government had formed a special task force to probe the scam. However, The MP high court, rejecting Congress leader Digvijaya Singh’s demand for a CBI probe, on November 5, 2014 formed a special investigating team (SIT) to investigate the scam. On July 7, the Supreme Court agreed to hear petitions seeking a CBI probe into the Vyapam scam. The SC hearing is scheduled to take place soon.
4. Urgent arrests- Over 2,000 people have been arrested in connection with the scam so far, including former education minister Laxmikant Sharma. The arrested people included over a hundred of politicians, several MPPEB officials, bureaucrats, middlemen, students and their parents.
5. Is being a whistleblower a crime?
The detailed investigations in the scam commenced on July 7, 2013 on the basis of a report lodged on the information of an Indore-based civil rights activist, Dr Anand Rai. Forensic expert Prashant Pandey stated that he became a whistleblower in July last year, when he realised the special task force was relying on documents that seemed to have been tampered with. Also, Gwalior-based social activist Ashish Chaturvedi claims to have disclosed the involvement of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s relatives and seven others in the scam. All whistleblowers claim that they fear for their lives.
6. The numerous deaths are a serious setback for MP CM Chouhan, and represent a rare vulnerability in the political armour of the earthy politician who has been on a winning spree since his installation as CM in 2005. The most famous allegation against Chouhan being the so-called dumper scam which allegedly involved his wife Sadhana Singh and her relatives.
7. The major one- MP chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that it was not fair to link all unnatural deaths in the state with the Vyapam scam.
One of the greatest mysteries ever, nothing except for keeping the fingers crossed and anticipating could be done at this moment.
With inputs from Suyash Karangutkar
Tags: AAP BJP Congress Madhya Pradesh Shivraj singh chauhan Vyapam scam
