MPPEB scam: Lokayukta cops search residences of Trivedi

Searches were today conducted by the Lokayukta police at the Indore and Bhopal houses of former exam controller Dr Pankaj Trivedi, the main accused in the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) scam.

A 15-member Lokayukta team searched Trivedi's house at Vinay Nagar on Kesar Bagh road in Indore where his wife was present, official sources said.

The sleuths also sealed the Bhopal house of Trivedi, they said.

As per preliminary investigations, the sleuths have gathered information about Trivedi's assets, including around 5.5 hectares of agricultural land, two houses and one plot of land, sources said.

Documents found from his house also suggest that he has a partnership in a local college, they said.

The Lokayukta police team was trying to collect more information about the movable and immovable assets of Trivedi.

The MPPEB scam came to light in July last year after alleged irregularities were found in the state's Pre-Medical Test (PMT) and in recruitment for various government posts, including contractual teachers.

The Special Task Force is probing the scam even as there have been demands from several quarters for a CBI investigation in the case.

Trivedi was arrested in September last year in connection with irregularities in PMT. Later, during interrogation his alleged involvement in some other entrance and recruitment exams conducted by MPPEB also came to light.

He is currently lodged in a jail under judicial custody.