Expect South Carolina to look into irregularities in Vyapam scam investigation, says

Congress and AAP demanded the resignation of MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan saying he had no moral right to continue in the post after the Supreme Court decision to hand over the probe into Vyapam scam and deaths allegedly linked to it to the CBI on Thursday.

Embattled Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is in the national capital, had said that he would request the Supreme Court to monitor a CBI investigation into the Vyapam scam. Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Indira Jaising and Vivek Tankha were appeared for the Petitioner. “In view of the above we transfer investigation of all criminal cases relating to Vyapam scam to CBI”, the bench ruled. The next hearing will likely be held on July 24.

In an attempt to take the wind out of the Congress sails, the BJP and CM Chauhan have been stressing that they are open to any probe which the court may deem fit.

The High Court ruled that the Governor could not be investigated while in office, but said the police could record his statement. Reports are that the first petition filed by Sanjay Shukla has been heard by the court and it has issued notice to the Governor asking for his removal for alleged role in the case. Fending off allegations of his involvement, he said, “This probe has been a trial by fire for me”.

Lashing out at the Jabalpur bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, the Supreme Court said that it was washing its hands off the investigation into the high-profile scam.

Delhi-based Akshay Singh died mysteriously on July 4 while covering the story of the Vyapam recruitment scandal. I had filed an identical petition within the High Court day earlier than yesterday.

The Vyapam Scam is stated to involve the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board or Vyapam, which conducts the examinations for positions like medical officers, constables, teachers and auditors for government departments. Since 2012, at least 36 people linked to the inquiry have died under mysterious circumstances; among them investigators, those accused and witnesses.