Constable quizzed in Vyapam scam found dead at home

Another death allegedly related to the Vyapam scam spells more trouble for Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. 

Hours after a trainee woman cop allegedly committed suicide by jumping into a lake in Sagar, an MP Police constable was found dead in Orchha late on Monday.

Ramakant Pandey, 38, who was questioned by authorities over alleged fraudulent recruitments made during a test conducted by the tainted MPPEB, was found hanging in his home.

Constable Ramakant Pandey was questioned by the investigators four months ago. Local police, however, denied any link between his death and the scam saying Pandey was an alcoholic and was depressed over his debt.

Pandey’s death is the fourth death in last four days.

MUST READ: All you need to know about the Vyapam scam

Earlier, on Saturday, TV journalist Akshay Singh died under mysterious circumstances soon after he had interviewed parents of a girl found dead after her name cropped up in the admission and recruitment scandal. A day later Dr Arun Sharma, dean of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Medical College in Jabalpur, who was assisting the investigators in the probe was found dead at a Delhi hotel.

Anamika Khushwaha, who was recruited as sub-inspector through the Vyapam selection board in 2014, committed suicide on Monday.

The deaths have caused a furore in the state with the opposition demanding for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe. However, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan refused to accept that the death of the trainee cop on Monday was related to the scam.

Speaking to the media, Chouhan had said, “All deaths should not be linked to Vyapam.”

Since the investigation began, 45 people have died. They include witnesses, accused, people assisting the inquiry and a journalist. According to the report admitted before the Madhya Pradesh high court, 23 of these deaths were ‘unnatural’ causes.

SC to hear Digvijay Singh’s plea on July 9

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear the plea of Congress leader Digvijay Singh and three whistleblowers seeking an apex court-monitored CBI probe into the Vyapam scam on July 9.

“We can fix all the matters together. It will come on July 9,” a bench comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and justices Arun Kumar Mishra and Amitava Roy said.

Singh and whistleblowers -- Ashish Chaturvedi, Dr Anand Rai and Prashant Pandey -- have moved the apex court seeking a CBI probe under its supervision. On Monday, a group of lawyers and Aam Aadmi Party leader Kumar Vishwas had moved the court urging it to take cognisance of the massive scam. 

Image: Congress women activists protest against Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, demanding his resignation over the Vyapam scam. Photograph: PTI