New Delhi: The Supreme Court today granted a four month extension to the Madhya Pradesh government which is probing the multi-crore professional exam scam involving politicians and government officials.
In November, the top court had directed the state government to conclude the investigations by March 15.
Advocate General Mukul Rohatgi, who represented Madhya Pradesh government, told the court that the STF or Special Task Force which has already registered 55 FIRs or First Information Reports, needs six months more to conclude the investigations into the remaining 28 cases.
The STF has so far arrested 1700 people in connection with the scam, and is likely to arrest 700 more. The agency is likely to file a chargesheet in the case by March 27, Friday.
Last month the STF filed an FIR against Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav, for allegedly taking money from aspiring candidates for the position of Forest Guards in 2013.
Top Congress leaders including Kapil Sibal and Digvijaya Singh are reported to have met Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the state government's involvement in the scam.
The alleged scam involves the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board or Vyapam, which hold exams for positions like medical officers, constables, teachers, forest guards, and auditors for government departments. Candidates allegedly bribed government officials to make it to the list of those who cleared the test, without taking the exam.
Dr Anand Rai, a whistle-blower from Indore, had first taken the issue to the High Court who then instructed the government to form a Special Task Force under its supervision.