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Under mounting pressure Chouhan seeks CBI probe in Vyapam scam

by IBNS 07 Jul 2015, 12:17 am

Bhopal, Jul 7 (IBNS) Two days after he flatly refused to invite a CBI investigation into the Vyapam scam, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday buckled under mounting pressure to ask the High Court for a probe by the central agency.

"I request High Court to handover the probe to CBI...With a CBI probe, everything will be crystal clear in the case," he told a press conference.

" The government should be above suspicion. We need to answer if any questions are raised," Chouhan said.

His announcement came  the day union minister Uma Bharti urged him to "do something."

Bharti had said that she too "is scared" witnessing the parade of deaths linked to the Vyapam scam.

More than 45 people-all connected to the scam and its investigation in one way or the other- have so far died premature deaths. Most of the  deaths occurred under mysterious circumstances.

Calling Chouhan "Mout ka saudagar" the opposition Congress has been demanding his resignation.

The chief minister said the Madhya Pradesh High Court is monitoring the SIT probing the scam and he has complete faith in the system.

Still he was " up all night and have thought about it."

" I have decided that CBI should enquire the issue... Now I am sending a letter to the High Court requesting them to order a CBI probe."

Replying a question on the concern expressed by Uma Bharti, a former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan said : "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."

The Vyapam scam involves a racket indulging in bribery and impersonation to arrange government services and admission to colleges.