Vyapam scam: No need for a CBI probe, says Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Babulal Gaur

Amid fresh Opposition demands for a CBI probe into the high-profile MPPEB scam in the wake of deaths of 25 accused and witnesses, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Babulal Gaur today termed them as "natural" deaths and ruled out probe by the central agency into the scandal.

"All deaths are natural deaths," Gaur told PTI when asked about the deaths of so many people in the scam so far.

"The accused fell sick and died," he said reiterating that all these are "natural" deaths.

Referring to the Congress' demand of handing over the probe to CBI, Gaur said that even Supreme Court had rejected the demand and added that the inquiry into the scam is presently going on under the strict monitoring of Madhya Pradesh High Court. 

"Everybody has to die one day or the other. Everyday, prisoners die of some disease. I dont think this case needs any kind of CBI probe," Gaur said.

On the other hand, Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said, "I dont have any information on the number of deaths in this case. But, yes two have died recently. This issue should be probed."

While the death of 40-year-old Dr Rajendra Arya at Birla Hospital in Gwalior on Sunday morning was reported to be due to some disease, that of Narendra Singh Tomar (29) in Indore jail was under mysterious circumstances.

As many as 24 accused, including Tomar, and witnesses have died so far under mysterious conditions in the scandal.

Arya, who reportedly holds an MBBS degree, had allegedly helped two students clear Pre-Medical Tests (PMTs) conducted by MPPEB in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

Tomar was an accused in the Pre-Medical Test conducted by MPPEB in 2009. Tomar was said to have arranged for impostors who had written the papers in place of genuine aspirants.

The most high-profile death was that of Shailesh Yadav, son of Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav. Shailesh (50) was found dead at his father's residence in Mall Avenue area of Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow on March 25 this year.

Ram Naresh Yadav, a former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, was also made an accused in the MPPEB scam before getting relief from the court.

Several politicians, including former Education Minister Laxmikant Sharma, a host of officials and scores of aspirants have been arrested in the case. Congress has even accused Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of complicity in the scam.