New Delhi, July 28 (IANS): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday registered the 17th FIR and ninth preliminary inquiry in connection with its ongoing probe into the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh.

The First Information Report (FIR) was registered against 18 people relating to the alleged illegalities committed in the Forest Guard recruitment test conducted by Vyapam in 2012.

The CBI registered the FIR under charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy, IT Act, Prevention of Corruption Act and the Madhya Pradesh Recognised Examination Act.

The preliminary inquiry, meanwhile, was registered into the unnatural death of Brijesh Rajput, a 25-year-old resident of Rajput Veterinary College in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh.

The alleged unnatural death occurred on October 22 in Jabalpur. The deceased was an alleged accused in a case registered by police in Gwalior.

The CBI has already registered 16 FIRs and launched eight preliminary inquiries into the Vyavsayik Pariksha Mandal (Vyapam) -- or the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) -- scam.

The Supreme Court had on July 9 handed over the Vyapam cases to the central agency for investigation. More than 40 people linked with the scam have died under mysterious circumstances.