'Don't Link All Deaths With Vyapam,' Says Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan

"As Home Minister I am ready for a CBI probe. But it is already being investigated by a special investigation team (SIT) under the supervision of the High Court....the High Court has said no," Rajnath Singh said, after Mr Chouhan briefed him on the case.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan has refused to give in to the Opposition's pressure for a CBI inquiry into the death of at least 35 people linked to investigations in the Vyapam case. Responding to controversy over the death of a trainee sub inspector, the chief minister said today, "All deaths should not be linked to Vyapam."

Ms Kushwaha was found dead in a lake this morning. The police said they suspect she committed suicide. She was recruited through an exam conducted by Vyapam or Madhya Pradesh Professional Exam Board, but the police said she is not suspected to be linked to the scam.

The Vyapam scam is hinged on top politicians and bureaucrats of Madhya Pradesh allegedly accepting kickbacks in exchange for allowing imposters to take recruitment exams for government jobs and admission to colleges. The Congress alleges Mr Chouhan's complicity.

"45 people have died, a journalist has died, all in mysterious circumstances, said Congress state leader Arun Yadav, called Mr Chouhan "Maut ka Saudagar" or trader of death."I allege that these deaths are taking place to eliminate evidence," Mr Yadav said.

Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh, a former Madhya Pradesh chief minister who has filed a petition in the Supreme Court in the case said, "Everyone involved in the scam must be punished, even if they are Congress leaders. If it means Digvijaya Singh is also a party to this, you send Digvijaya Singh to jail also."

The Aam Aadmi Party's Kumar Vishwas has moved the Supreme Court petitioning it take cognisance of the many deaths. He has requested the top court to monitor investigations in the case.

The Supreme Court has, meanwhile, today agreed to hear a petition asking for the removal of Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav to ensure a fair inquiry into the scam. Mr Yadav was named as an accused in the scam last year, but was then removed from the case because his office entitles him to immunity from investigation.

On Saturday, Delhi-based journalist Akshay Singh died suddenly when he was in Jhabua, speaking to the family of a girl named in the Vyapam scam. A doctor had said that he died of a heart attack, but Delhi's AIIMS hospital is now handling a medical investigation into how he died.

Less than a day later, 64-year-old Dr Arun Sharma, the dean of a Madhya Pradesh medical college, was found dead in a hotel room in the capital. Dr Sharma was aiding investigations into the Vyapam recruitment scam. The earlier dean, Dr DK Sakalle was found burnt to death at his home a year ago.