Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday the SIT probe into the Vyapam scam is being monitored by the Madhya Pradesh High Court and the Centre cannot direct the court to hand it over to the CBI.
“SIT probe into the scam is on, and the government cannot direct the High Court or the Supreme Court on the issue,” he told reporters.
Asked why the Madhya Pradesh government is avoiding a CBI probe into the massive recruitment/admission scam, Rajnath said the High Court and the Supreme Court had already rejected a public interest litigation (PIL) in this regard. “There is no point in handing over the ongoing probe to CBI at this juncture,” he said
“In case someone tries to influence the probe, or if any incident takes place that affects the investigation, then I am sure that the court will take cognisance. 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,” he added.
“Politics should be done (only) on positive and right issues,” he said, adding that “both (Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh) Chouhan and I want complete probe into the scam,” when asked about the death of several accused or witnesses related to the scam.
Trainee sub-inspector Anamika Sikarwar (25) was found dead in a lake in Sagar district today. It followed the unexplained deaths of journalist Akshay Singh and Jabalpur Medical College Dean Arun Sharma over the weekend.
Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijaywargiya has stoked a controversy with his insensitive remarks on the death of TV journalist Akshay Singh, who died under mysterious circumstances while covering the Vyapam scam.
Flak over remark“Forget the journalist. Is there any bigger journalist than me today?” Vijaywargiya, who is also the BJP’s national general secretary, had told reporters when they raised the issue of Akshay’s death.
The Congress had attacked the BJP leader, saying his remarks were condemnable and he should apologise.
However, in a statement issued today, Vijaywargiya clarified his remarks and expressed solidarity with the deceased scribe in particular and journalists in general.
“I am deeply hurt by the way a section of media is spreading misinformation campaign about me.
“I responded to the question put up by a journalist in an informal manner which according to me was an ‘off-the-record’ conversation,” he said.