Cong demands CBI probe into MP dental scam

After taking on the ruling BJP over Vyapam scam,  Congress has raised a demand of Central Bureau of Investigation probe into Dental and Medical Admission Test for private colleges in Madhya Pradesh. Congress on Sunday said the DMAT scam is bigger than Vyapam, and should be abolished with immediate effect. Supreme Court had already asked the Center and State governments to file a reply on why a CBI probe should not be initiated into the scam.

"DEMAT scam has become a way to buy seats in medical colleges as they converting maximum seats into management quota seats in various medical colleges. The Supreme Court had in its order 12 August 2005, asked the state government to form a monitoring committee of retired judges but nothing has happened so far. The government formed an officers' committee and refused to initiate any probe into the scam," Leader of opposition in state assembly Satyadave Katare allegedly said.

Katare further alleged, "The state chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had replied to his question during 2006 session on the issue in state assembly and assured to get it investigation but later he turned down the demand when an MLA Sudarshan Gupta raised the issue in 2011. We want a separate CBI probe into the scam as it is happening in Vyapam scam. Both the scams are same and pertain to entrance examination in professional courses."

At present the DEMAT examination which is conducted by Association of Private Dental and Medical Colleges (APDMC) has been put off from its slatted date of 12 July at 23 centres, even outside Madhya Pradesh against 1200 seats medical and dental courses. Following a court order 15% seats are reserved for NRIs quota and the remains comes under management quota and government quota.

A former Vyapam official Yogesh Uprit had been made Controller of DMAT but he is in Jail in connection with main Vyapam scam. He had recently informed investigators that DEMAT examination is also rigged and seats are sold against money and not merit.

Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson said, "the matter is before Supreme Court, whatever will be decided in the court the party will follow it."

On last Thursday DEMAT had come under judicial scanner with Supreme Court on Thursday agreeing to hear a plea for CBI probe. The court had asked Center and state government to reply on why a CBI probe should not be initiated in DEMAT scam within two weeks.

Monsoon session which will start from coming Monday is likely to be stormy though Katare said opposition wanted a discussion over all issues including Vyapam, Demat, fertlisers and power supply to farmers.