Vyapam scam: CBI begins probing mysterious death of MP Guv's son

CBI on Monday started a preliminary enquiry to probe the mysterious death of Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav's son Shailesh whose name had figured in the multi-crore rupee Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board scam, also known as Vyapam.

Shailesh, 50, was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his official residence in Lucknow on March 25 this year.

Police had claimed the exact cause of the death could not be ascertained immediately.

Shailesh's name had cropped up in the MPPEB or Vyapam scam for allegedly fixing the recruitment of 10 candidates as Grade III teachers.

Ram Naresh Yadav, a former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, was appointed Madhya Pradesh Governor by Congress in 2011.

Besides registering the preliminary enquiry in the late evening, CBI on Monday also registered six more FIRs into alleged corruption in the conduct of examinations and recruitment tests conducted by  Vyapam.

Giving details about the FIRs, CBI spokesperson Kanchan Prasad said in Bhopal that the first case has been registered against eight persons for alleged cheating by impersonation in Pre Medical Test, 2004 while the second FIR is against eleven persons for impersonating as candidates during PMT, 2005 and helping to secure admission in MBBS courses.

CBI registered the third case on allegations of cheating by personation in Constable Recruitment Examination, 2012 against seven persons, the agency spokesperson said.

The remaining three FIRs are related to Police Constable recruitment test in 2012.

In one FIR, 27 accused are named while in remaining two--two accused each--are named.

With the registration of these FIRs, the total number of cases under probe has touched 59.

On the directions of the Supreme Court of India, CBI has taken over the investigation of the said FIRs which were earlier registered by the Madhya Pradesh Police.

Further process of taking over of remaining cases is under way, Prasad said.

Vyapam scandal has snowballed into a major political issue with parliament's monsoon session being repeatedly disrupted after opposition continued its protests over Vyapam issue and Lalit Modi controversy.

Allegations of rampant corruption surfaced in professional examinations conducted by Vyapam after RTI queries showed alleged involvement of top functionaries of state government offices.

Former state Education Minister Laxmikant Sharma and several top bureaucrats are currently in jail in connection with the scam.

Ram Naresh Yadav has also been accused of favouring some aspirants.