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Vyapam scam: Why MP CM seeking CBI probe stinks of a cover-up

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Kumar Shakti Shekhar
Kumar Shakti ShekharJul 07, 2015 | 19:32

Vyapam scam: Why MP CM seeking CBI probe stinks of a cover-up

A beleaguered Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 7 apparently succumbed to all-round pressure and agreed for a CBI inquiry into the infamous Vyapam scam which has so far witnessed the death of about 45 people linked to it.

Though it appears that Chouhan decided to hand over the investigation into the Vyapam scam to the CBI, the fact is there were other, more pressing issues which led the third term chief minister to do the same.

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Speaking to mediapersons in Bhopal, Chouhan said, "In a democracy, the ruler should be above suspicion. There are questions in people's minds. People want to know the truth. Questions in people's minds have to be answered. I bow my head to people's wishes...I am sending a request to the high court that the CBI should be allowed to investigate the case."

Till a day ago, Chouhan had resisted all pressures to hand over the probe to the CBI. He had maintained that the case is being heard in the Jabalpur high court which had appointed a special investigative team (SIT) to monitor the probe being conducted by a special task force (STF). He had reiterated that requesting for a CBI probe was not proper in such circumstances.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has maintained a studied silence not only on Vyapam but even in other controversial issues, such as the help extended by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje to former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, or the case against human resource development minister Smriti Irani for misrepresenting her educational qualification.

But Union home minister Rajnath Singh, who on July 6 went to Jhabua where Aaj Tak journalist Akshay Singh died on July 4 while interviewing a Vyapam victim's family, rejected CBI inquiry saying it could happen only if the Supreme Court or the Jabalpur high court orders one.

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Then what changed within 24 hours forcing Chouhan to make a volte-face? The Supreme Court agreed on July 7 to hear a petition filed by Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh and three whistle-blowers related to the scam. The hearing will come up on July 9. Singh and the three whistle-blowers have sought a Supreme Court-monitored probe by the CBI into the scam and the spate of deaths associated with it.

And this is what Chouhan is most wary of, more than the "Peepli Live moment" when even the spotlight of international media has turned to Vyapam scam-related deaths. The simple-looking yet clever chief minister has sought to preempt the Supreme Court by deciding to write to the Jabalpur High Court to order a CBI inquiry. In this case, it will either be an independent inquiry by the CBI or a high court-monitored CBI probe. Both the scenarios will be more favourable for Chouhan, as they will be held within the state, than an apex-court monitored CBI probe.

The chief minister has also sought to take the wind out of the Congress' sails by recommending a CBI probe. The Congress had so far been demanding a CBI inquiry into the scam and the deaths. They had targetted Chouhan, who so far appeared defensive. Now, at least on this issue the Congress will not have reasons to disrupt the proceedings of the monsoon session of Parliament commencing on July 21.

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Last updated: July 07, 2015 | 19:32
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