Did CBI Finally Catch a Vyapam Scam Accused After 12 Years?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- CBI's 12-year pursuit culminates in a significant arrest.
- Use of technology played a vital role in locating the suspect.
- This case highlights ongoing issues of corruption in recruitment processes.
- Whistleblowers have faced challenges despite their contributions.
- The case continues to unfold with political ramifications.
Bhopal, Sep 9 (NationPress) After a long pursuit lasting 12 years, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) successfully apprehended an impersonator who participated in the Police Constable Recruitment Test (PCRT)-2013 in Madhya Pradesh, a case widely recognized as part of the Vyapam scam.
The accused, Shelendra Kumar, was taken into custody in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, linked to a case that the CBI registered on September 15, 2013, according to an official statement from the agency.
The CBI reported that Kumar had taken the examination on behalf of another candidate and was previously detained by the Madhya Pradesh Police.
However, he evaded capture when the CBI submitted the charge sheet in June 2017 and has been on the run since. He was officially declared an absconder in July 2018, as per CBI records.
Recently, the CBI employed technical intelligence to gather vital leads, which ultimately confirmed his identity and revealed his whereabouts in Haridwar.
Responding promptly to this intelligence, a CBI team successfully located and arrested him on Monday.
Earlier this year, RTI activist Ashish Chaturvedi, a key whistleblower in the Vyapam Scam, was reported for allegedly mistreating Special Armed Forces (SAF) personnel assigned to ensure his safety.
According to official sources, this action followed a complaint from a SAF member who claimed Chaturvedi compelled them to perform personal tasks and verbally abused them for refusal.
This incident occurred in Chandrabadni, within the jurisdiction of the Jhansi Road police station, where several personnel were stationed for Chaturvedi's security.
Chaturvedi, residing in Jhansi, received security following a directive from the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 2022.
Another whistleblower, Anand Rai, who first brought the Vyapam scandal to light in Madhya Pradesh, ventured into politics last year by aligning with a national party.
Rai had submitted a PIL to the Madhya Pradesh High Court, calling for a comprehensive investigation into the irregularities from 2013. The court instructed a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
The case was eventually transferred to the CBI in 2015, leading to the detention of several prominent politicians, including the former Education Minister of the state.