Buckling under pressure after 48 deaths, Madhya Pradesh CM asks HC for CBI probe into Vyapam scam

With the pressure mounting on the Madhya Pradesh government over Vyapam-related death count nearing 50, state Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said he would ask the High Court for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the scam.

Addressing mediapersons in Bhopal, Chouhan said that while he was satisfied with the probe being conducted by the Special Task Force, he would write to the Madhya Pradesh High Court, recommending probe into Vyapam scam by the central agency.

The Chief Minister, however, justified his earlier stand of not giving in to the demand for a CBI probe, reiterating that the state government had no authority to directly order the same in case of an ongoing court-monitored investigation.

"Keeping into consideration the recent developments, it has now become important that the investigation be handed over to the CBI," said Chouhan.

He further asserted that the Madhya Pradesh government had no connection with the scam, adding that "a public servant must be above reproach".

Ruling out the possibility of his resignation, the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister termed all allegations against him as "baseless".

Hitting back at the Congress party, which has been targeting the MP government over Vyapam-linked deaths, Chouhan said that the party's aim was not to investigate the scam, but "their only intention is to target me".

Reacting to the statement of the Chief Minister, the Congress said that they were "not fully satisfied", adding that Chouhan must be brought under the preview of inquiry.

This came on a day when the Supreme Court decided to hear a plea seeking a CBI probe into Vyapam scam on July 9.

Meanwhile, Congress general secretary and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh alleged a nexus between the Chouhan government and the judiciary to shield those involved in the scam.

He said, "We cannot trust the Special Task Force to do a fair job investigation when the Governor's office and the CM office is all involved in the case. STF is being compromised, MP police and the entire MP administration has been compromised as the CM's family, the Governor's office and many powerful officers in the state are involved in the case."

The case is getting murkier with each passing day and at least 48 people have died in the case.