Congress wants only SC-monitored probe into Vyapam

The Congress on Tuesday said the investigation into the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh should be overseen only by the Supreme Court.

Congress general secretary Mohan Prakash demanded that the recruitment scam in the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (or Vyapam), the deaths allegedly linked with it, as well as the probe so far by investigating agencies, and the "people overseeing it", all should be monitored by the apex court.

Asked by journalists at a press conference here on Tuesday whether the "people overseeing it" meant the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Mohan Prakash said: "You are wise enough".

He said the Congress has called for a state-wide shutdown on July 16 over the issue, and asked civil society groups and business associations to support the call.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had earlier said that the probe was being conducted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which reports to the Madhya Pradesh High Court, and not the state government.

Over 40 people allegedly linked with the recruitment scam have died - some under mysterious circumstances and some have committed suicide.