NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered transfer of probe into all Vyapam scam cases and the deaths allegedly linked to it to the CBI and sought response from Madhya Pradesh government on why an FIR should not be lodged against the Governor Ram Naresh Yadav over his purported involvement in the scandal. And the apex court also issued notice to Centre and Governor.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India(CJI) H L Dattu clarified that all cases will be transferred to the CBI from Monday and the agency will file its report before it on July 24. The apex court order transferring all Vyapam-related cases to the CBI came after the state government gave its consent to shift the investigation from the Special Investiation Team (SIT) and the Special Task Force (STF).
Before handing over the probe to the CBI, the court took on record the submission of Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who on behalf of MP government, said that the state has no objection to transferring the investigation of cases relating to Vyapam scam to the CBI and the cases related to the deaths of people allegedly related to the scam for carrying out a free and fair probe.”
The Attorney General (A-G) on instruction states that MP government has no objection whatsoever for transferring the investigation of criminal cases relating to Vyapam scam to the CBI and the cases related to deaths of those allegedly connected with the scam for free and fair probe. We appreciate the stand of the A-G. In view of the above, we transfer investigation of all criminal cases relating to Vyapam scam and death of people allegedly related to it, to the CBI,” the Bench directed.
The court also issued notice to the CBI and sought its response within two weeks on the plea that the investigation into the cases arising out of the scam should be monitored by the apex court. And the Bench also pulled up the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which had on Wednesday deferred hearing on the ground that the matter was before the apex court.
The response came after A-G said the state had already moved the High Court for a CBI probe and the matter was fixed for July 20.”The High Court wants to wash its hands off. On CBI enquiry, instead of doing that, they are now saying that the ball is in the Supreme Court,” the Bench observed.
The A-G said, “We have acceded to the CBI probe and for it to be monitored by the Supreme Court is entirely up to you (apex court).”
When senior counsels Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Singhvi and Vivek Tanka were assailing the procedure adopted in the Madhya Pradesh High Court, the Bench interrupted them by saying that the apex court is passing an order, how can the High Court proceed. “Once CBI comes into the picture, can the HC proceed? Obviously no,” the judges observed.