File Photo: Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav.
With 35 deaths - two over the weekend - of people linked to a massive scam in Madhya Pradesh for recruitment to government jobs, the state government headed by Shivraj Singh Chouhan is under attack from the opposition. The Supreme Court has today agreed to hear a petition asking for the removal of Governor Ram Naresh Yadav to ensure a fair inquiry.
Mr Yadav, who was named Governor in 2011, 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.
Mr Yadav's son, Shailesh, is among the 35 people linked to the scam who have died over the last three years, triggering allegations of a murky inquiry by the opposition.
The Vyapam scam refers to the collusion in recent years by top politicians, bureaucrats and others that saw vast amounts of money being paid to allow imposters to take the qualifying exam for government jobs. The recruitment swindle is being investigated by a special team of the Madhya Pradesh police, and is being monitored by the Jabalpur High Court. Over the weekend, as a journalist reporting on the scam and the dean of a medical college linked to the scandal were found dead, Chief Minister Chouhan of the BJP once again refuted calls for the investigation to be transferred to the CBI - he said that decision must be taken by the High Court, and not him.
Dr Arun Kumar (Left), Dean of NS Medical College, and journalist Akshay Singh (Right)
Mr Yadav took office as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh four years ago. The police filed an FIR against him last year alleging that he had tried to ensure candidates of his choice were selected as Forest Guards. However, the High Court said the Governor is constitutionally entitled to immunity while in office and cannot be investigated for criminal wrong-doing.
Mr Yadav's son was found dead in Lucknow in March. One of over 1900 people arrested, Shailesh Yadav had allegedly accepted kickbacks in exchange for ensuring government jobs for teachers, but did not manage to deliver.