Narendra Singh Tomar, an accused in the MPPEB scam, died in an Indore jail.
Narendra Singh Tomar, a veterinary doctor accused in the high-profile Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board or MPPEB scam, died under mysterious circumstances on Saturday night. Another accused in the scam, Dr Rajendra Arya, out on bail, also died in a hospital in Gwalior on Sunday. He was suffering from a liver infection. 23 others linked to the scandal, also known as Vyapam scam, have died under mysterious circumstances so far.
Dr Tomar was lodged at a jail in Indore since February after he was arrested for allegedly bringing imposters from Uttar Pradesh to answer pre medical tests in 2009 in place of the actual candidates. On Saturday night, he complained of chest pain and was taken to the Maharaja Yashwant Rao Hospital in Indore where doctors declared him brought dead.
"He complained of chest pain so we rushed him to the hospital. How he died, we do not know," constable Dinesh Yadav of the district's jail said.
Dr Tomar's family fears foul play in his death. "The police tell me that my brother complained of chest pain and so they brought him here. When we reached here in the morning we were told he is dead," said his brother Vikram Singh.
A magisterial probe has been ordered to find the cause of Dr Tomar's death. But the Opposition Congress, which has been demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, is far from satisfied. The Congress has been alleging the involvement of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his family in the scam and see the deaths as a cover up.
"Shivraj Singh Chouhan is trying to cover up. PM should speak about it; he does not speak what nation wants to hear," said Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh.
The 25 deaths linked to the scandal include that of Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav's son Shailesh Yadav, who allegedly committed suicide.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the scandal has to submit a chargesheet to the High Court by July 15. The High Court is also awaiting a report from the SIT on these deaths.