Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
As the furore over the Vyapam scam grows, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has claimed to be the "whistleblower" in the case. But records show that over the last eight years, question has been raised thrice in the state assembly over the scam and the Chief Minister has received 17 letters on the subject.
The government has given evasive answers and practically no action has been taken, say opposition leaders.
Questions are now being raised whether Mr Chouhan's government - which is facing Congress charges of a cover-up following the deaths of 35 persons linked directly or indirectly to the scam -- deliberately delayed opting for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
In 2009, Paras Saklecha -- then an Independent lawmaker who later joined the Aam Aadmi Party -- asked on the floor of the Assembly whether there were any irregularities in the Pre-Medical Test conducted by the state examination board, known by the acronym Vyapam.
The government's response was, "We are gathering information". The chief minister, who also held the medical education portfolio at the time, formed a committee to probe the allegations.
In March 2011, another lawmaker asked whether there have been wrongful admissions in dental and medical colleges between 2007 and 2010. Mr Chouhan replied they have not been able to identify any such candidate.
In November 2011, the Opposition again raised the issue in Vidhan Sabha. The chief minister said, "114 such students have been identified as having obtained wrongful admission and the matter is being investigated". But no action was taken.
Between July 2011 and June 2013, the chief minister received 17 letters questioning the possibility of a scam.
In June, the Chief Minister promised to investigate and report on the matter within 30 days. But medical colleges concluded investigations six months later, in December 2013, and only included students in their probe.
"Time and again the issue of wrongdoing was raised, but the Chief Minister either formed a committee or said they are investigating it but never ordered any action," said Mr Saklecha, who is now a state executive member of AAP and a social activist.
After the Supreme Court ordered a CBI probe last week, Mr Chouhan told NDTV, "I am the whistleblower in the Vyapam scam, I found discrepancies and so ordered STF probe."
"All questions about Vyapam were answered by the government. I can't recall if we did not answer some," government spokesperson Dr Narottam Mishra said.