New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANS): The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over all Vyapam scam cases - involving irregularities in admissions and recruitment in Madhya Pradesh - irrespective of the stage of their investigations or trial.

"We direct the CBI to take over 72 cases which are in different stages, within three weeks", said an apex court bench of Chief Justice H.L. Dattu, Justice C. Nagappan and Justice Amitava Roy.

The apex court also directed the Special Task Force/Special Investigation Team that was investigating these cases earlier, and even till now, to extend all co-operation when such a request was made by the CBI.

Noting that the CBI was already processing the appointment of 19 public prosecutors to lead its cases before the trial court, the Supreme Court asked it to complete the appointment of 48 public prosecutors needed to cover 24 trial courts.

Fixing October 9, 2015, as the next date of hearing in the case, the apex court asked the CBI to file a status report on compliance of its orders.

The Supreme Court on July 9 handed over cases involving wrong-doings with regards to admissions and recruitment effected by Vyavsayik Pariksha Mandal (Vyapam) or Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) over the years to the central investigating agency.