CBI shifts 20 officers from Vyapam branch in one day
In a move that has raised eyebrows, the CBI shifted out 20 officers in one day from the Special Vyapam Scam Branch in Bhopal, where over 50 cases are pending. The opposition Congress has also questioned the timing: MP goes to polls later this year. With this, over 70% of the Vyapam branch's staff has been moved out in six months.
What was the Vyapam scam?
The scam during 2008-13 was related to the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (Vyavsayic Pariksha Mandal/'Vyapam'), which conducts entrance exams for engineering and medical colleges and government jobs. Vyapam officials reportedly worked with racketeers and candidates to manipulate the roll numbers of candidates and "solvers." Beneficiary candidates were seated behind "solvers," or bright medical students who were paid, so they could copy.
How did the scam come to light?
Indore police stumbled upon this scam while investigating complaints of impostors in pre-medical tests. About 2,000 arrests were made. The scam kept getting murkier as one after the other witness was found dead. Since 2013, nearly 50 witnesses have died under mysterious circumstances.
CBI formed the Vyapam branch in 2016, but faced challenges
CBI took over the investigation in 2015. In 2016, it opened the Vyapam branch. Initially, a 40-member team was formed, but officers began asking for different postings, sources say. The agency ultimately had to handpick officers as not many expressed interest. The workload might have been a factor: 2,000 accused had to be examined in 107 cases of corruption and 50 deaths.
'Congress had hope, but CBI gave clean chits to accused'
But its latest move has riled some. "Congress had demanded a CBI inquiry with a lot of hope, but it ended up giving clean chits to many of those who controlled the scam. I think they should close this branch," said party spokesperson KK Mishra.
'Transfers a matter of routine,' claims CBI
Defending its move, CBI said probe in 40 of 50 cases is at an advanced stage. "In more than 100 cases, people have been chargesheeted and trials are on," an officer said. The transfer was a "matter of routine," they added. Some believe it will take two decades to completely probe the scam. Meanwhile, the 20 shifted have been moved to Delhi's anti-corruption branch.
