MPPEB scam: Congress holds protests; demands CBI probe

Bhopal, Jul 1:

on Tuesday staged protests here demanding a CBI probe into the

Professional Examination Board (MPPEB)

and also the resignation of Chief Minister

.

Congress workers led by state party president Arun Yadav and Leader of Opposition Satyadev Katare staged the protest at Jawahar Bhawan demanding that Chouhan should step down, alleging involvement of the "high and mighty" in the scam. Terming it as a major scam, Congress workers demanded CBI probe into the MPPEB scam, which is being probed by state police's Special Task Force (STF).

The Congress workers, who also staged a road blockade near the Roshanpura Square, were taken into custody following a minor scuffle between them and the police. The workers also staged a sit-in protest at the premises of Central Jail after they were released by police.

The protests were staged at all district headquarters in the state, Congress leader Pankaj Chaturvedi said. On Sunday night, Former Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had said that Chouhan should quit on moral grounds.

Earlier this month, over 100 students who allegedly cleared the Pre-Medical Test (PMT) through unfair means were arrested by the Special Task Force from different districts of Madhya Pradesh in connection with the scam. The PMT was conducted by MPPEB whose top officials were already arrested by STF since the scam surfaced in 2013.

The STF had arrested former State Technical Eeducation minister and BJP leader Laxmikant Sharma on June 15 for his alleged involvement in the contractual teachers recruitment scam.

The contractual teachers examination too was conducted by the MPPEB. The arrests were carried out after Madhya Pradesh High Court, which is monitoring the scam, directed the STF to submit a status report in the matter on June 30. Yesterday, the report was submitted in-camera by top STF officials before a division bench of Chief Justice A M Khanvilkar and Justice Alok Aaradhe.

The STF informed the court about the arrest of Sharma in connection with the scam and a reward it has announced against those who are absconding. The court has fixed the matter for July 18.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Congress legislators led by Katare reached Assembly on tongas and bullock carts in protest against the hike in price of petrol and diesel. The Congressmen also sported black head-gears while sitting inside the House in protest on the issue.

PTI