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Vyapam Scam: Shivraj Singh Chouhan Asks For CBI Probe

Vyapam Scam: Shivraj Singh Chouhan Asks For CBI Probe
Chief Minister of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan (C) poses with his wife Sadhna Singh (L) as they show their inked-fingers after casting their votes in anational elections in the village of Jait, some 70kms from Bhopal on April 24, 2014. India's 814-million-strong electorate is voting in the world's biggest election which is set to sweep the Hindu nationalist opposition to power at a time of low growth, anger about corruption and warnings about religious unrest. AFP PHOTO/STR (Photo credit should read STRDEL/AFP/Getty Images)
STRDEL via Getty Images
Chief Minister of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan (C) poses with his wife Sadhna Singh (L) as they show their inked-fingers after casting their votes in anational elections in the village of Jait, some 70kms from Bhopal on April 24, 2014. India's 814-million-strong electorate is voting in the world's biggest election which is set to sweep the Hindu nationalist opposition to power at a time of low growth, anger about corruption and warnings about religious unrest. AFP PHOTO/STR (Photo credit should read STRDEL/AFP/Getty Images)

A day after his political rival Uma Bharti accused the Madhya Pradesh government of botching the Vyapam scam investigation, the state's chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is requesting the Jabalpur High Court to order the CBI to conduct a probe.

"I have said this before, I can't order a CBI enquiry directly. I request High Court to handover the probe to CBI," he said at a press conference in Bhopal on Tuesday. "With a CBI probe, everything will be crystal clear in the case."

Chouhan tweeted that the state had not influenced the Special Task Force which he had constituted to conduct an

investigation.

STF has been conducting a free and fair probe under supervision of SIT constituted by the Hon'ble High court. State has no role or influence

— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) July 7, 2015

I do not want to leave anybody in doubt over our intention to clean the system and punish the guilty.

— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) July 7, 2015

I have decided that State will make a request to the Hon'ble High court for handing over the investigation of Vyapam cases to the CBI.

— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) July 7, 2015

Vyapam is a massive scam which involves politicians and government officials allegedly allowing impostors to take exams for government jobs in Madhya Pradesh, in exchange of vast sums of money. A Special Investigation Team (SIT)-probe into the scam is being monitored by the Jabalpur High Court.

At least 35 people, who are connected to the Vyapam scam, have died since 2010. The reasons for their deaths include accidents, illness, suicide and alcoholism, but their link to this one scam is inexplicable.

On Monday, Bharti, the former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, whose name has cropped up in the scam, complained of being unfairly targeted in the state police investigation, and the senior BJP leader said that she feared for her life.

Accusing the Indore crime branch of not subjecting Chouhan to the same scrutiny, Bharti, who is the water resources minister in the Modi government, called for a CBI investigation.

Reacting to Bharti's remarks, Chouhan said today, "I have deep respect for Uma Bharti. Whatever she may have said. Uma Ji is a senior leader, a union minister and like my sister."

Earlier today, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the plea of Congress Party leader Digvijay Singh to order and monitor a CBI probe.

Reacting to Chouhan's announcement, Singh said, "I am happy good sense has prevailed... I want the CBI inquiry to be monitored by the Supreme Court."

Chouhan said today the accusations levied by the Congress Party until now have been false.

काँग्रेस ने अब तक जितने आरोप लगाये, सब असत्य पाये गये। फिर भी मैं मानता हूँ कि लोकतंत्र में इस तरहके प्रश्नों का स्पष्ट उत्तर मिलना चाहिए।

— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) July 7, 2015

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.