MPPEB scam: Supreme Court grants 4 more months to SIT to conclude probe

The Supreme Court today granted four months more to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted following a High Court order, to conclude probe into the alleged scam in the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB).

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justices M Y Eqbal and Arun Mishra, which had earlier asked the SIT to conclude probe by March 15, granted extension of time to the state government.

The multi-crore rupees professional examination scam, also known as 'Vyapam' scandal, involves several high-profile professionals, politicians and bureaucrats as accused.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Madhya Pradesh, told the court that the SIT has so far registered 55 FIRs and requires six months more to conclude the investigations into remaining 28 cases.

Earlier, the High Court had rejected a plea filed by Congress leader Digvijay Singh seeking a CBI probe into the alleged scam.

The High Court, however, had ordered setting up of a special investigation team (SIT) to look into the case.

The SIT, so far, has arrested around 1700 persons in connection with the scam.

The alleged scam involves MPPEB, which holds examinations for various posts such as teachers, medical officers, constables and forest guards.