The apex court nudges reluctant probe agency to take up the case

Asking the Central Bureau of Investigation if it is prepared to “take up the cause” of bringing to book the culprits behind the scams crippling the professional education sector in Madhya Pradesh, the Supreme Court told the agency on Friday that it should investigate the Vyapam and the Dental and Medical Admission Test (DMAT) scams, saying the court was against a piecemeal investigation.

The court’s urging came after the CBI complained of being overburdened with cases such as those of the Vyapam scam, and said it was ill-prepared to accept the task of investigating the DMAT scam, which relates to alleged irregularities in admissions to management and government seats in private medical colleges. The CBI, in a recent affidavit, said the DMAT scam looked bigger than the Vyapam scam in its scope and depth. The number of Vyapam cases had increased to over 210, and coping with the large number of cases being referred to it from various corners was “extremely hard and almost impossible”.

“Apart from the Vyapam cases, the CBI is already investigating over 1,000 cases related to chit-fund scams in several States … besides its own normal targeted 846 cases,” Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Madhya Pradesh government, said. But the court was unrelenting.

“Are these [Vyapam and DMAT] not all to do with admissions in medical colleges. We have issued notice. Attorney-General take the entire thing,” Chief Justice Dattu told Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi.

The Chief Justice indirectly pressed the agency to take on the investigation, by remarking that “We can’t allow the CBI to do 50 per cent work and an SIT [special investigation team] to do the other 50 per cent. We want you to do 100 per cent.” Mr. Rohatgi said the DMAT scam did not require a CBI investigation, as private colleges were the suspects.

“This is not like Vyapam. Here, exams are conducted by private colleges. There is no public servant involved and hence no scope for the Prevention of Corruption Act. Where is the question of a CBI probe,” Mr. Rohatgi asked the court.

The court, however, gave the Madhya Pradesh government two weeks to “positively” decide and come back on the plea for a CBI investigation.