The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday refused to hear an application filed by the state government praying for transferring the investigation of criminal cases related to the Vyapam scam, as also the cases related to deaths allegedly linked to the scam, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). “We are informed that identical prayer has been made in the proceedings recently instituted before the Supreme Court. Therefore, in deference and to observe judicial propriety, we are of the considered opinion that the hearing on this application must wait till the outcome of the proceedings before the SC,’’ the division bench comprising chief justice A M Khanwilkar and Justice Alok Aradhe said. After stonewalling calls for an independent probe, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday agreed for a central probe into the main scam as also the deaths of people linked to the scam over last five years. While adjourning the hearing on the application till July 20, the division bench refused to express any opinion on the contents of the sealed envelope filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 26 saying that can also be considered on the next date of hearing. The SIT, which is monitoring the probe by the Special Task Force (STF), submits periodical status reports to the High Court, which then passes appropriate orders. SC in favour of separate bench to hear Vyapam pleas The Supreme Court on Wednesday favoured setting up of a special bench to hear the bail and other petitions related to the Vyapam scam. A bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi, while declining to hear the anticipatory bail plea of accused Juber Ahmed, granted him the liberty to mention his plea before Chief Justice H L Dattu for the constitution of a designated bench. The CJI’s bench is scheduled to take up a clutch of petitions on Vyapam scam on Thursday. (With Inputs from Delhi)
