Vyapam scam: Madhya Pradesh's top bureacrats under CBI scanner

The first notification for the exam was for recruiting 198 personnel, but 332 people were selected without due administrative sanction. When the Opposition raised the issue, transport minister Bhupendra Singh held a press conference claiming 316 people were selected.

Many top bureaucrats in the state are now under the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) scanner with regard to the transport constable recruitment examination conducted by Vyapam.

CBI faces a daunting task of unravelling a corruption scandal that went on for years, leaving a trail of thousands of suspects – including some top elected representatives – with hordes of tell-tale evidence requiring thorough scrutiny. (HT Photo)

This test was deemed unique as transport department officials allegedly adopted administrative measures to arbitrarily change rules and procedures to help those candidates who were not eligible, sources said.

In the past too, the role of bureaucrats, especially those posted in the transport department, in the scam was under the lens, however none of them were questioned by the Special Task Force (STF).

Sources claimed that the first notification for the exam was for recruiting 198 personnel, but 332 people were selected without due administrative sanction. When the Opposition raised the issue, transport minister Bhupendra Singh held a press conference claiming 316 people were selected.

The Congress has alleged that incriminating documents related to the exam were made to go missing. The party added that the case was hushed by the STF, which is why the case was registered late.

“This is the most explosive of all Vyapam cases and the officers role was under scanner from the beginning, but the STF was never interested in pursuing the case”, said a senior police official.

Meanwhile, the agency on Thursday registered an FIR with regard to the recruitment of Madhya Pradesh junior food, civil supplies officer and inspector (weights and measurement), which was conducted by Vyapam in 2012. This is the 14th case registered by the CBI, ever since it took up the investigation into the multi-layered scam.

As many as 38 persons have been named as accused in this case, including the then controller of Vyapam, said the CBI spokesperson.