Updated
Bhopal, Jul 7 (PTI): Bowing to public outcry, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said he will request the high court to order a CBI probe into the Vyapam case, including the large number of deaths of people allegedly linked to the scam.
Chouhan, who has been under opposition attack over the rising death toll, said people wanted to know the truth and it had become imperative that the case be probed by CBI now to put to rest all doubts.
The opposition has alleged that nearly 45 people having links with the Vyapam admission and recruitment scam have died since the investigation into the scandal began in July 2013. At least five people, including a journalist covering the scam, have died under mysterious circumstances in last one week.
Addressing a press conference, Chouhan rejected the Congress charge of his involvement in the scam, terming it as "baseless".
"Honouring public sentiments, I will request the high court to order a CBI probe," he said, noting that democracy is run on public acceptability. "The functioning of the government should be beyond any doubt," he said.
Referring to the recent deaths and the public outcry for a thorough probe, Chouhan said many unfortunate events have occurred of late, including the journalist's death, and that people have a right to know the truth.
Contending that it was not within his powers to order a CBI probe, the chief minister said the developments in the case demanded fair answers.
"I thought about the matter the whole night...The questions which have been raised need answers. It has become necessary now that CBI investigates the case," he said.
Asked if he wanted a CBI probe into these unnatural deaths as well, he said the agency should probe all aspects of the case.
On Congress' allegation about his involvement, he said all charges the opposition party had levelled against him in the case so far had been found to be wrong.
Chouhan, however, refrained from making any comment on Union Minister and former state Chief Minister Uma Bharti's statement that she too felt "scared" over the deaths.
"She is like my elder sister and a very respected leader. I respect her a lot. I made no comment against her even when she was not in BJP," he said.
Earlier Report
Police constable quizzed over Vyapam scam found dead in MP
Jul 7 (Agencies): Another shocking death in relation to the Vyapam scam has been reported of late in which a police constable in Madhya Pradesh was found hanging from the ceiling at a tourist outpost in Tikamgarh, yesterday morning.
The constable was interrogated over the Vyapam scam four months back, according to media reports.
However, police denies the death of the constable being linked to the Vyapam scam.
According to the police, the constable was suffering from depression and was an alcoholic.
This is the fourth recent death which has alleged links to the Vyapam scam in a period of just four days following the mysterious deaths of journalist Akshay Singh, Jabalpur medical college dean Dr Arun Sharma and trainee SI Anamika Sikrwar.
Details are awaited.
SC to hear plea for CBI probe into Vyapam scam on July 9
New Delhi, Jul 7 (PTI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear on July 9 the plea of Congress leader Digvijay Singh and three whistleblowers seeking an apex court-monitored CBI probe into the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh.
"We can fix all the matters together. It will come on July 9," a bench comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and justices Arun Kumar Mishra and Amitava Roy said.
Singh and whistleblowers -- Ashish Chaturvedi, Dr Anand Rai and Prashant Pandey -- have moved the apex court seeking a CBI probe under its supervision.
Yesterday, a group of lawyers and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishwas had moved the court urging it to take cognisance of the massive scam.
The court yesterday fixed these matters for hearing on July 9.
The petition, filed by a group of lawyers, have sought removal of Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav on the ground of his alleged involvement in the massive admission and
recruitment scam in the state and recording of his statement in the case.
In his petition, AAP leader had urged the apex court to take cognisance of the massive scam, citing that 45 people have died in mysterious circumstances in connection with the case.
Earlier, the apex court had granted four months more time to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted following a High Court order, to conclude probe into the case.
The multi-crore rupees professional examination scam, involves several high-profile professionals, politicians and bureaucrats as accused.
The alleged scam involves MPPEB, which holds examinations for various posts such as teachers, medical officers, constables and forest guards.