BHOPAL: Former state higher education minister Laxmikant Sharma , accused in the Vyapam scam , walked out of jail on Sunday to a hero's welcome from supporters. In jail for 18 months, he was granted bail by the Madhya Pradesh high court.

Thousands gathered to welcome Sharma as he emerged from Central Jail at 10.45am.“I've full trust in the judicial system,“ he said. “I'm grateful to those who backed me in the time of crisis.“ Sharma told the media he had full faith in the new investigation agency probing the scam. Asked about the earlier probe agency , Sharma evaded the query. Asked if he was the victim of a conspiracy, Sharma said: “God knows“.

On Thursday, the high court had granted him bail, nearly one-and-half years after his arrest by special task force for his alleged role in Vyapam scam. A bench of Jabalpur high court comprising justices Shantanu Kumar and K K Trivedi allowed him bail on Rs 5 lakh security bond in each of the seven cases against him with orders to report to the nearest police station near his Vidisha home once a week. He has also been asked to deposit his passport.