Congress demands SC-monitored CBI probe in Vyapam case

The Congress on Sunday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored CBI probe into the deaths of more than 40 people connected with the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh, adding the matter needs to be investigated thoroughly and impartially.

"A Supreme Court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe is needed (in the matter). There is no bar on it even as the Special Investigating Team (SIT) is already probing the case," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said at a press conference here.

The Madhya Pradesh Police's Special Investigating Team (SIT) was not doing enough to unearth the truth and the case should now be transferred to the CBI, he said.

Earlier, the Aam Aadmi Party too demanded on Sunday that the Supreme Court oversee the SIT's probe into the scam after a television reporter covering the scam died in Madhya Pradesh under mysterious circumstances.

The Congress also accused Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of "misleading the people and parroting his old line" on the demand to get the case investigated by an impartial investigative agency.

The admission and recruitment racket in the Madhya Pradesh Vyavsayik Pareeksha Mandal (Vyapam) or the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board apparently involves politicians, officials and businessmen.

More than 40 people associated with the scam have died since 2013 - either in mysterious circumstances or have committed suicides.

"We want the truth to come out. Justice should prevail. We all must join our heads and hands so that justice is served to the victims," Surjewala said.

The Congress leader also condoled the death of Akshay Singh, an Aaj Tak TV channel's journalist, and Arun Sharma, dean of a medical college in Madhya Pradesh, connected with the scam probe, since Saturday.

--Indo-Asian news Service

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