Vyapam scam: Digvijay records statement against Shivraj Singh Chouhan
What's the story
A Bhopal court recorded the statement of Congress leader Digvijay Singh in connection with his complaint against Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister Uma Bharti, and five others in the Vyapam scam. The Vyapam scam refers to irregularities in exams held by the MP Professional Examination Board, also called Vyavasayik Pareeksha Mandal or Vyapam, for admission to professional courses and state services.
Information
Singh was assisted by senior lawyers Kabil Sibal, Vivek Tankha
Singh deposed for over two hours before Judge Suresh Singh of the Special Court dealing with the cases related to MLAs and MPs. The former Madhya Pradesh CM was assisted by senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, senior counsel and Congress leader Vivek Tankha, among other advocates.
Details
Sibal claims STF, CBI saving those involved in scam
In his plea, Singh has sought criminal prosecution of Chouhan, Bharti, and five others in the Vyapam scam. "Digvijay Singh has submitted the copy of a document connected with the scam in which Chouhan's name figures 48 times," Sibal told reporters. He claimed that earlier the state Special Task Force (STF), and now the CBI, are saving those involved in the scam, especially Chouhan.
2016 probe
CBI had given Chouhan a clean chit in the scam
Meanwhile, Tankha said that Singh has submitted documents running into 27,000 pages to accompany his charges while Sibal alleged that Chouhan was the root of the scam. Earlier, the STF had investigated the scam but in 2016, the Supreme Court had directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to take over the investigations. The central agency had given Chouhan a clean chit in the case.