Centre asks Madhya Pradesh Governor to resign

The decision comes a day after the registration of an FIR against him in a recruitment scam

A day after registration of FIR against him in a recruitment scam, the Centre has asked Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav to quit from the post.

The Home Ministry has conveyed its decision in this regard to the Governor as he has been named in the case, official sources said, adding that his position has become untenable in view of the FIR.

"A report has been sought from the state government and Governor's office on the entire matter," they said.

However, when contacted, Raj Bhawan spokesperson said in Bhopal, "There is no communication in this regard from Delhi."

Yadav was named in an FIR registered yesterday by Special Task Force (STF) probing the multi-crore Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board or Vyapam scam under various sections of IPC, including 420 for cheating.

Yadav had allegedly recommended the names of five candidates for recruitment as forest guards to the top officials of MPPEB which conducted the examination.

The registration of FIR comes following a hearing in the matter in the Madhya Pradesh High Court on February 20 when a division bench comprising Chief Justice A M Khanwilkar and Justice Alok Aradhe had said, "The STF is free to proceed against the high dignitary."

The MPPEB scam is a massive admission and recruitment scandal involving politicians and some senior and influential state government officials and the Governor's role in it had come under the scanner since the arrest of his Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Dhanraj Yadav in MPPEB's Pre-Medical Test (PMT).

His son Shailesh Yadav's name too had cropped up during the investigation when an accused had alleged he was paid money for recruitment of contractual teachers.

Yadav, a former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, was appointed by the Congress in 2011 and his term was set to end in September 2016.