Vyapam scam: Slain TV journalist Akshay Singh cremated; SIT to probe his death
Bhopal/New Delhi July 5: Slain Television journalist from Hindi news channel Aaj Tak, who passed away on Saturday, July 4, in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh, while covering the massive Vyapam scam case, was cremated on Sunday, July 5, at 2 pm at Nigambodh Ghat in the national capital.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, Congress senior leader Ajay Maken and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia attended the funeral of slain journalist Akshay Singh.
While saying that he was deeply saddened by the TV journalist's demise, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the "Special Investigation Team (SIT) will investigate his death".
"This incident is highly unfortunate. My condolences to the family of the deceased", Chouhan said during a press conference. [Scribe dead; Congress demands probe]
"We are going to write a letter to the SIT probing Vyapam scam to investigate death of the TV journalist", Chouhan asserted.
He further said, "Probe into Vyapam scam is being done under HC's supervision. State Govt can't override the orders of HC or SC."
"I am proud that we attempted to clean the system,as a result of which things like these (Vyapam scam)came to the forefront", he added.
One of the eyewitness, Om Prakash told a news agency, "He suddenly started frothing at the mouth, hands started trembling and he collapsed."
Meanwhile Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "We are not pointing fingers in this point of death, but we are raising serious concerns. Our heart reaches out to family of the journalist who has become the 44th victim of suspected death in Vyapam scam of MP."
Another Congress leader RPN Singh said, "There should be an independent probe into the death of journalists in the country. If a CBI enquiry is ordered into Vyapam scam, things will get crystal clear."
"There have been more than 25 deaths over Vyapam Scam in MP. When will State and Centre Govt wake up from their slumber", he asked.
"If MP CM does not have anything to hide then why is he scared of a CBI probe into Vyapam scam?", he asked.
Congress senior leader Manish Tewari even wondered "if this is Polonium or some other mysterious substance all the way".
AAP leader Manish Sisodia said, "There must be an independent probe into the journalist's death sans the State Govt, State Police or Centre's involvement."
Abha Singh, a social activist said, "The death of the journalist in suspicious circumstances needs immediate investigation. PM Modi should now pay attention to the scam and investigation should be completed asap so that no more innocents are killed."
[Vyapam scam: 44 mysterious deaths; what's the MPPEB scam all about?]
Akshay Singh was in Madhya Pradesh for coverage of the recent deaths due to the scam in the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) or Vyapam.
On Saturday, he was in Meghnagar in Jhabua to talk to the family members of scam-accused Namrata Damor, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances.
The India Today Group, in a statement, said it was deeply saddened by the untimely death of Akshay Singh, who was working with Aaj Tak as a special correspondent since December 2013.
The India Today Group is deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Akshay Singh. Akshay had been working with Aaj Tak as...
Posted by Aaj Tak onSaturday, July 4, 2015
Delhi
CM
Arvind
Kejriwal
and
Dy
CM
Manish
Sisodia
at
Nigambodh
Ghat
for
TV
journalist
Akshay
Singh's
final
rites.
pic.twitter.com/l1XnzqYpZ0
—
ANI
(@ANI_news)
July
5,
2015
Delhi:
Cong
Vice-President
Rahul
Gandhi
at
Nigambodh
Ghat
for
the
final
rites
of
TV
journalist
Akshay
Singh.
pic.twitter.com/qdH6tmWiyn
—
ANI
(@ANI_news)
July
5,
2015
SIT
to
investigate
TV
journalist's
death:
MP
CM
Shivraj
Singh
Chouhan
pic.twitter.com/yh6xRumNTy
—
ANI
(@ANI_news)
July
5,
2015
The
moot
question
is
that
nobody
trusts
MP
Govt
or
the
CM's
word
unfortunately:
Manish
Tewari
pic.twitter.com/vYPHR9YXYF
—
ANI
(@ANI_news)
July
5,
2015
Both
the
journalist’s
death
and
#Vyapam
scam
must
be
probed
by
an
SIT
under
SC’s
regular
monitoring:
Manish
Sisodia
pic.twitter.com/xKcxdueLOZ
—
ANI
(@ANI_news)
July
5,
2015
My
condolences
on
sad
&
untimely
demise
of
young
journalist
Akshay
Singh.
My
thoughts
&
prayers
are
with
the
bereaved
family.
—
Arun
Jaitley
(@arunjaitley)
July
5,
2015
I
met
Akshay
one
day
before
he
left
for
MP.
Warned
him
to
be
careful.
I
am
shocked
!
Pay
homage
to
him
and
convey
condolences
to
his
family.
—
digvijaya
singh
(@digvijaya_28)
July
4,
2015
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