CBI files 13th FIR against 52 accused
VYAPAM SCAM Case registered against ex-higher education minister of Madhya Pradesh and his aide Om Prakash Shukla
NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investig ation ( CBI) on Wednesday registered a first infor mation re por t ( FIR) against former higher education minister of Madhya Pradesh Laxmikant Sharma and his aide Om Prakash Shukla on charges of being involved in transport constable recruitment through Vyapam.
This is the CBI’s 13th FIR after taking over probe into what is known as Vyapam scam on the instructions of the Supreme Court. The case pertains to alleged alteration of Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets by the employees of Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) or Vyapam in the transport constable recruitment test conducted in 2012.
According to agency sources, in all 52 persons have been named as accused in the case and they include the former state education minister and his ex-officer on special duty.
The agency has invoked Indian Penal Code sections pertaining to criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery among others, besides sections 3(1-2), 4 of MP Recognised Exams Act 1937, Sections 65, 66 of IT ACT and various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act in its FIR.
It is alleged that the preferred candidates were asked to leave their OMR sheets blanks and were given high marks. The sheets were later filled on the basis of answer keys according to numbers given to preferred candidates.
The CBI so far has registered five Preliminary Enquiries (PE) in connection with its probe into the Vyapam scam. The death of nine persons linked with the scam is being inquired as one inquiry.