AMN/
Two more accused in the high-profile Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board, MPPEB, scam died in Gwalior and Indore. 25 accused and witnesses related to massive scandal have died so far. While 40-year old Dr Rajendra Arya died at Birla Hospital in Gwalior Sunday morning after his condition suddenly deteriorated, 29 year old Narendra Singh Tomar died in Indore jail under mysterious circumstances.
City Superintendent of Police Ajay Jain said a magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the death of Tomar, who was posted as Assistant Veterinary Officer at Raisen before being embroiled in the MPPEB scam, also known as Vyapam scam. Besides Arya, 24 accused, including Tomar, and witnesses have died so far under mysterious circumstances.
Dr Tomar was lodged at a jail in Indore since February after he was arrested for allegedly bringing imposters from Uttar Pradesh to answer pre medical tests in 2009 in place of the actual candidates. On Saturday night, he complained of chest pain and was taken to the Maharaja Yashwant Rao Hospital in Indore where doctors declared him brought dead.
“He complained of chest pain so we rushed him to the hospital. How he died, we do not know,” constable Dinesh Yadav of the district’s jail said.
Dr Tomar’s family fears foul play in his death. “The police tell me that my brother complained of chest pain and so they brought him here. When we reached here in the morning we were told he is dead,” said his brother Vikram Singh.
A magisterial probe has been ordered to find the cause of Dr Tomar’s death. But the Opposition Congress, which has been demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, is far from satisfied. The Congress has been alleging the involvement of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his family in the scam and see the deaths as a cover up.
“Shivraj Singh Chouhan is trying to cover up. PM should speak about it; he does not speak what nation wants to hear,” said Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh.
The 24 deaths in the scandal include that of Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav’s son Shailesh Yadav, who allegedly committed suicide.