Vyapam Scam: Explained In 90 Seconds

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With the Central Bureau of Investigation been given six weeks to appoint prosecutors for its ongoing probe into the multi-crore recruitment scam, take a quick look at what Vyapam scam is all about.

“Vyapam” Scam is related to the admission and recruitment scam that happened in public sector positions in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Vyapam is a Hindi acronym for Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB), which is responsible for carrying out the various entrance tests in Madhya Pradesh to recruit candidates for government jobs as well as for admissions in public educational institutions.

The scam is the manipulation of the system in the selection of candidates for these public sector jobs. Unfit candidates were selected by bribing the MPPEB officials, businessmen and local politicians through middle men.

Irregularities in the test existed since mid-1990s and an FIR was filed in the year 2000. Complaints again surfaced in 2009 and the state government finally initiated an investigation into it. Hundreds of people were put behind bars by 2011.

However, the absolute size of scam came to light in the year 2013 with the arrest of 20 more people. By June 2015, over 2,000 people had been arrested.

The reason for this scam making national headlines is the death of 35 people since investigations began in 2013 by Special Task Force of the state police.

The case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in July with the Madhya Pradesh High Court monitoring the investigation.