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New Delhi: Following reports that BJP leader Kapil Mishra, who has been accused of incitement, has been granted Y+ category security by the Delhi Police, Dr. Anand Rai — one of the three main whistleblowers of the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh — has sought enhanced security cover.

Rai tweeted Wednesday that he had exposed the previous BJP government in the state but at present, he was guarded by just one Protective Service Officer (PSO) at a time.

He sought better protection and tagged the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamala Nath, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Digvijaya Singh among others in his tweet.

Govt shd enhance my security cover,I exposed Bjp/Narottam thru a sting operation,rt now i have only 1 PSO at a time,atleast 1×4 guard and protection for my family members too @DGP_MP @srmohantyias @OfficeOfKNath @CMMadhyaPradesh @VTankha @digvijaya_28 @RahulGandhi @INCIndia — Office Of Dr Anand Rai (@anandrai177) March 4, 2020

What is the Vyapam scam?

The infamous Vyapam scam referred to rigged processes to gain admission to state-run medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh.

When the scam broke in 2013, it pointed to irregularities within the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) — the term Vyapam is derived from its Hindi acronym, the Vyavsayik Pariksha Mandal.

It soon came to light that the scam involved leaking of exam papers, attempts of rigging by hiring impersonators, bribing examiners.

The scam also gained notoriety as between 2013 and 2017, under the then BJP government headed by CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, there were at least 25 mysterious deaths linked to it.

In October 2017, however, the CBI claimed that the high number of deaths was due to an MP Police goof-up and that there was no conspiracy.

Also read: After flak, MP govt withdraws its ‘get at least one man to sterilise or lose job’ order

Who is Anand Rai?

The Indore-based Anand Rai is a medical officer who claimed that he first became suspicious of foul play in the examination system when in 2005 he himself took the MD MS exams.

After receiving a death threat over the phone, he finally filed a complaint with the economic offences wing of the Indore Police in 2013.

He sought an inquiry into the role of the chairman, exam controller and assistant controller in the Vyapam-controlled entrance examinations. The complaint is believed to be one of the major catalysts to the scam being made public that same year.

Rai, who allegedly came under immense pressure against speaking up, has routinely received death threats but continued to help the police with intelligence about how medical school exams were being rigged.

But after attempts of the then BJP government to allegedly transfer him and his wife Gouri, a gynaecologist, from Indore to Dhar, he claimed he was being harassed because of exposing the scam.

Rai also locked horns with then Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, when he claimed he had tried to broker a deal with him to drop the campaign against his government in order not to be transferred.

In 2015, the government denied there being any mala fide intention in the transfer, but after a long court battle, eventually withdrew the transfers.

On Wednesday, Rai tweeted a video, claiming it was the result of a ‘”sting operation” involving senior BJP leader Narottam Mishra. He claimed that the former minister offered Rs 100 crore and ministerial posts to some Congress MLAs for toppling the Congress government in the state.

Also read: Deora, Kamal Nath, Scindia, Ajay Maken: Congress imploding or showing internal democracy?

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