25 linked to Vyapam scam dead, 'natural deaths', says MP minister

Amid fresh Opposition demands for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the high-profile Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board scam in the wake of deaths of 25 accused and witnesses, state Home Minister Babulal Gaur on Monday 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.

Two more accused in the MPPEB scam, also known as Vyapam scam, died in Gwalior and Indore on Monday, adding another murky dimension to the massive scandal in which 25 accused and witnesses have died so far.

Referring to the Congress' demand of handing over the probe to the CBI, Gaur said that even the 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. "There is no need for a CBI probe," he said.

The death of 40-year-old Dr Rajendra Arya at Birla Hospital in Gwalior on Sunday was reported after his condition suddenly deteriorated, while that of Narendra Singh Tomar, 29, in Indore jail was under mysterious circumstances.

Arya, who reportedly held an MBBS degree, had allegedly helped two students clear pre-medical tests conducted by MPPEB in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Tomar, who was posted as an assistant veterinary officer at Raisen before being embroiled in the MPPEB scam, was an accused in the pre-medical test conducted by the MPPEB in 2009. Tomar was said to have arranged for impostors who had written the papers in place of genuine aspirants.

Three days back, the special investigating team probing the scandal had submitted to the MP high court that 23 deceased in the MPPEB scam had died unnatural deaths so far. Some reports have claimed 40 such deaths.

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

Vyapam scam is a massive admission and recruitment scandal involving politicians, bureaucrats and middlemen. Several politicians, including former education minister Laxmikant Sharma, a host of officials and scores of aspirants have been arrested in the case.

Image: Narendra Singh Tomar, an accused in the high-profile Vyapam scam, has died under mysterious circumstances in an Indore jail. Photograph: PTI