Bhopal, Feb 16 (Agencies): Congress on Monday claimed that Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan was involved in the 2013 education scam in the state.
Addressing a press conference in Bhopal, Congress leaders alleged that "MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan's name was removed from an excel sheet related to the MPPEB scam".
Accompanied by Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia and senior Supreme Court advocate K T S Tulsi, former chief minister Digvijay Singh told reporters that he has filed a statement under oath before the high court appointed special investigation team (SIT) that words 'CM' occurred at 48 places.
This was changed to just 'minister' at 21 places, then 'Uma Bharati' at 18 places and 'Ms' at one place. In 18 places, it has been altered to be left blank, Congress leaders alleged.
Rejecting their accusations, Madhya Pradesh health and family welfare minister and government spokesperson Narottam Mishra said the allegations were "baseless and without any substance".
"The allegations levelled by them are imaginary, baseless and without any substance. We have full faith in the SIT, STF, high court and the Supreme Court. If necessary, we will probe these charges," Mishra said.
The Congress leaders said the changes were made to protect in the original excel sheet to shield Chouhan and his family and demanded his resignation.
After submitting the documents in support of their charge to speical investigative team (SIT) which is overseeing the special task force (STF) probe into the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) scam in the recruitment examination for various government posts, the Congress leaders alleged that original excel sheet was tampered with.
State Congress leader Suresh Pachouri, PCC President, Arun Yadav and leader of opposition in the state assembly, Satyadev Katare also joined the joint press conference and demanded a CBI probe into the scam and sought Chouhan's resignation.
Digivijay Singh said "I have under oath submitted an original excel sheet retrieved from the deleted data, consisting 131 serial numbers.
'CM' appeared in 48 places. The investigating agencies have manipulated and replaced CM with Minister at 21 places, M/s at one place and Umabhartihji at seven places. Furhter at 18 places, CM has altogether been removed leaving a blank.
"Besides, minister 2, minister 3 and minister 4 mentioned at 17 places as sponsor/recommender in original excel sheet but all of them changed/replaces with "minister," he alleged.
To support their allegations, Congress leaders were also accompanied by senior Supreme Court lawyers, K T S Tulsi and Vivek Tankha to show that they were levelling the allegations with all the seriousness after taking legal opinion.
Tulsi compared the alleged tampering of evidences with the famous Watergate case.
"In the eye of the court, tampering with court evidences is more serious crime than murder and dacoity and I am confident that the chief minister will get punishment in it," Tulsi said.
Popularly known as the VYAPAM scam, the MPPEB scam was a medical admission and recruitment scam of 2013.
The special task force of Madhya Pradesh police under the supervision of the high court is conducting the investigations.