Bhopal, July 24 (IANS): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team looking into the Vyavsayik Pariksha Mandal or Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh on Friday included the mysterious death of an accused in its purview, pushing the number deaths being probed by the agency to 20.

A body of Rahul Solanki, 22, was found in the hostel of Gandhi Medical College in December, 2012. He was an accused in the Vyapam scam in an FIR registered at Gwalior's Jhansi Road police station, according to CBI sources.

The CBI has so far filed 14 FIRs and is investigating incidents of 20 deaths, including the death of TV channel journalist Akshay Singh.

The investigation into the Vyapam scam and related deaths was handed over to the CBI from the Special Task Force following the Supreme Court order.

Meanwhile, state's Mining, Energy and Public Relations Minister Rajendra Shukla said on Friday that no attempt is being left out under an international conspiracy to defame one of the most progressive states of the country.

Without mentioning Vyapam, he said earlier the state was mentioned for the good facilities like power, road and others being provided to public. Now the state is being defamed.