Bhopal, Jul 17 (NDTV): The BJP has suspended party leader Gulab Singh Kirar, who has been named in an FIR or police complaint by the CBI in the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh.

Kirar, who enjoys minister of state rank, was removed on Thursday, a day after CBI filed its first cases in the scam. He was named even by the Special Investigation Team of the state police too last year, but the party did not act against him then.

Kirar is a member of the state backward class and minority welfare commission. He and his son Dr Shakti Pratap Singh are both named as accused in police records. The police had even announced a cash reward on Shakti Pratap, who allegedly topped a medical exam in 2011 using illegal means. The complaint was filed by Gwalior-based whistleblower Ashish Chaturvedi.

A 40-member CBI on Monday started investigating the scam that revolves around a massive swindle in qualifying tests for colleges and jobs as government teachers, doctors and policemen. Lakhs of candidates allegedly paid bribes to manipulate the exam process, including hiring proxies to take the test for them.

Last week, the Supreme Court ordered the CBI to take over the case after petitions asked for an investigation into the unusual number of deaths of accused and witnesses. The court has asked the investigating agency to file a report on July 24.