Fatal Exam

• 23 No. of people dead in mysterious circumstances

• 12 Most deaths of people linked to the scandal are in Gwalior district

• 9 Those who died before they were named as accused

• In nearly 90% of the deaths, no viscera has been preserved

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The Organisation

• ‘Vyapam’ is short for Vyavasayik Pariksha Mandal, or professional examination board

• Set up in 1970 to conduct pre-medical tests, is now involved in admission and recruitment

• Holds admission test for medical, engineering, law, dental, homoeopathy, teachers’ training colleges

• Conducts recruitment tests for constables, inspectors, paramedics, peons and all positions in MP government not covered by state public service commission

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The Investigation

• PIL into Vyapam’s functioning filed in Jabalpur High Court in 2009, which ordered investigation by a special task force in 2013

• STF has arrested around 2,000 people, mostly students and teachers accused of using unfair means to secure admission; will arrest 800 more

• The first probe committee, set up in December 2009, came up with its report after 24 months—it threw up 114 fake candidates

• A second committee, this time to probe all admissions from 2006-12, pegs number of fake candidates at 296; in all, 876 students are said to have benefited

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Left to Right Ram Naresh Yadav, Sadhna Singh, Laxmikant Sharma

The Netas

• Ram Naresh Yadav Governor, who rig­ged forest guard recruitments

• Sadhna Singh CM’s wife, allege­dly in touch with some of the accused

• Laxmikant Sharma Ex edu min, arrested for amassing scam wealth

• Suresh Soni Accused, along with late RSS chief K.S. Sudarshan, of issuing recommendation letters

• Dr Gulab Singh Kirar Accused of using influence or money to get son 1st rank in pre-PG (medical) in 2011

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Left to Right Sudhir Bhadoria, O.P. Shukla, Ajay Mehta

The Near & Dear Ones

• Sudhir Bhadoria Controller of examination, Narendra Tomar kin

• O.P. Shukla Laxmikant OSD, took Rs 85 lakh for clearing med entrance

• Ajay Mehta CM’s family doc, arrested by STF, freed on bail in 3 months

• Dhanraj Yadav Former officer on special duty to the governor, arrested

• Prem Prasad Yadav, PA to CM, accused of getting a large number of students into medical college

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The Officers

• Pankaj Trivedi Vyapam’s examination controller who provided model answers to students

• R.K. Shivhare DIG; his son and daughter-in-law got into medical college; surrendered after evading arrest

• Ravikant Dwivedi Joint commissioner (revenue); cash, jewellery property of Rs 60-70 cr found

• Ranjana Chaudhary, Retd IAS, alleged to have been paid Rs 42 lakh; not yet investigated

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The Other Notables

• Jagdish Sagar Businessman, whose arrest in Mumbai in 2013 blew the lid off the scam, interrogation led to other arrests

• Dr Vinod Bhandari Main accused, escaped to Mauritius when he was named in the scam, arrested on his return

• Sudhir Sharma Involved earlier in MP mining scam, played a key role in Vyapam scandal