Top Madhya Pradesh Congress leaderson Monday accused the Special Task Force (STF) probing the Recruitment Scam of "tampering" with evidence to be submitted to court by removing Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's name at several places in an excel sheet as one who had recommended jobs for contractual teachers.
Top Madhya Pradesh Congress leaderson Monday accused the Special Task Force (STF) probing the Recruitment Scam of "tampering" with evidence to be submitted to court by removing Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's name at several places in an excel sheet as one who had recommended jobs for contractual teachers.
Accompanied by Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia and senior Supreme Court advocate K T S Tulsi, former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh told a press conference here that he has filed a statement under oath before the High Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) that words 'CM' occurred at 48 places.
This was changed to just 'minister' at 21 places, then 'Uma Bharati' at 18 places and 'Ms' at one place. In 18 places, it has been altered to be left blank, Congress leaders alleged.
Rejecting their accusations, Madhya Pradesh Health and Family Welfare minister and government spokesperson Narottam Mishra said the allegations were "baseless and without any substance".
"The allegations levelled by them are imaginary, baseless and without any substance. We have full faith in the SIT, STF, High Court and the Supreme Court. If necessary, we will probe these charges," Mishra said.
PCThe Congress leaders said the changes were made to protect in the original excel sheet to shield Chouhan and his family and demanded his resignation.
After submitting the documents in support of their charge to Speical Investigative Team (SIT) which is overseeing the Special Task Force (STF) probe into the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) scam in the recruitment examination for various government posts, the Congress leaders alleged that original excel sheet was tampered with.
State Congress leader Suresh Pachouri, PCC President, Arun Yadav and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Satyadev Katare also joined the joint press conference and demanded a CBI probe into the scam and sought Chouhan's resignation.
Digivijay Singh said "I have under oath submitted an original excel sheet retrieved from the deleted data, consisting 131 serial numbers.
'CM' appeared in 48 places. The investigating agencies have manipulated and replaced CM with Minister at 21 places, M/s at one place and Umabhartihji at seven places. Furhter at 18 places, CM has altogether been removed leaving a blank.
"Besides, Minister 2, Minister 3 and Minister 4 mentioned at 17 places as sponsor/recommender in original excel sheet but all of them changed/replaces with "Minister," he alleged.
To support their allegations, Congress leaders were also accompanied by senior Supreme Court lawyers, K T S Tulsi and Vivek Tankha to show that they were levelling the allegations with all the seriousness after taking legal opinion.
Tulsi compared the alleged tampering of evidences ?with the famous Watergate case.
"In the eye of the court, tampering with court evidences is more serious crime than murder and dacoity and I am confident that the Chief Minister will get punishment in it," Tulsi said.
Tankha and Tulsi further contended that former Minister,
Laxmikant Sharma, who is in jail in the case was made a "scapegoat".
"STF has made Sharma a scapegoat by fastening criminal liability on him in the case wherever "Minister" is mentioned in the Excel Sheet," they alleged.
"The STF has undertaken no efforts to unearth as to whom Minister-3, Miniser-2 and Minister-4 points out.
The replacement and deletion both are done by investigating agencies to frame one Minister.
Digvijay also contended "When Laxmikant Sharma has been put behind the bars drawing an inference that "Minister" is excel sheet is Laxmikant Sharma.
If the same logic is applied to "CM", then even Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan should be booked for the same crime, he added.
In fact, "Uma Bhartiji" is mentioned originally at 10 places as sponsor but in fudged excel sheet the number is 17, there is an attempt to magnify her role by investigating agencies, Digvijay said
"If my charges are wrong which I have levelled under oath, the government is free to prosecute me," he said.
Asked whether the government will prosecute Digvijay on the issue, Narottam Mishra said the government will consider it.
He termed the allegations as "baseless and untrue" and an attempt to "tarnish" the image of Chouhan after suffering a string of defeats in successive elections.
The MPPEB scam was unearthed in July, 2013 by Indore Police by arresting "Munnabhais" (scorers) who appeared for original candidates in Pre-Medical Test (PMT) examination conducted by the Board.
Later, the government handed over the case to STF for detailed investigations.
During investigations, it also came to light that the scam also involves other examinations including for recruitment of contractual teachers, patwaris and transport inspectors and others.
Congress has been demanding right from start a CBI probe into the scam and Digvijay Singh had initially filed a petition in the high court on the issue, which while rejecting the CBI probe demand, constituted SIT to oversee the STF investigations.
When his petition was rejected by the HC, he filed an appeal in the Supreme Court which was too met the same fate.
Digvijay, along with his lawyers, today submitted documents under oath before the SIT chairman, Justice (retd) Chandreesh Bhushan.
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