No CBI probe into Vyapam until court nod: Rajnath

The central BJP leadership is looking up to the courts to decide the next course of action in the Vyapam scam with voices demanding resignation of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan growing louder over increasing figure of suspicious deaths. 

The chief minister has come under tremendous pressure since a television journalist covering the scam died under mysterious circumstances which has instilled a sense of uncertainty and fear among people, given that 35 persons either directly or indirectly associated with the recruitment scam have died.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who was in Jhabua to tribute to the late BJP MP Dileep Singh Bhuria, was also briefed by Chauhan about the incidents given the fact that trainee sub-inspector Anamika Sikarwar (25) was the latest to have died on Monday, providing fodder to opposition to demand the CM’s resignation and an SC-monitored CBI probe.

“SIT probe into the scam is on, and the government cannot direct the High Court or the Supreme Court on the issue,” Singh told reporters. He was of the view that the courts will take cognizance in case attempts were made to influence the probe.

“If the Supreme Court or the High Court feels that the probe is not perfect to the extent it should be, then it will give directions and the government will immediately accept it and hand over the matter to the CBI,” Singh said.

Backed by the central leadership, Chauhan said that he was open for any probe suggested by the courts. He also asserted that the SIT investigation was happening under the supervision of the high court and that nothing is shared with his government.

Earlier, the SC had turned down Congress leader Digvijay Singh’s petition seeking a CBI probe on the grounds that the High Court monitored SIT was probing the scam.
“Congress is playing politics over deaths. They should not play politics over dead bodies,” BJP vice president Prabhat Jha, who comes from MP, said.

The party leaders are waiting to see the outcome of Thursday’s hearing on a fresh case filed in Supreme Court on the Vyapam scam. The SIT is also expected to submit its final report to the High Court on July 15.