SC hands over Vyapam probe to CBI

The Supreme Court on Thursday handed over to the CBI the investigation into the criminal cases related to the Vyapam scam and over 40 deaths linked to it. The CBI will begin its probe from Monday.

The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice H.L. Dattu handed over the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the court that he has instructions by the Madhya Pradesh government on handing over the probe to the CBI.

In its order, the court said: "The AG on instructions says that the state of Madhya Pradesh has no objection whatsoever for transferring investigation into criminal cases related to Vyapam scam to the CBI and also the cases related to the deaths of the persons...for fair and impartial investigation."

"We appreciate the stand of the attorney general", the court said and added: "In view of the above, we transfer investigation of criminal cases relating to Vyapam scam and the deaths to the CBI from Monday."

On the plea seeking apex court monitoring of the CBI probe into the Vyapam scam, the court said it will take a call on this after hearing from the investigating agency on July 24.

The court issued notice to the central government, Madhya Pradesh government and Governor Ram Naresh Yadav on a plea challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court order quashing the FIR against the state governor for his alleged involvement in forest guard recruitment scam on the grounds that he enjoyed immunity of the constitutional office he was occupying.