Vyapam scam: HC stays arrest of MP Governor Ram Naresh Yadav

Bhopal/Jabalpur: The Madhya Pradesh High Court, Friday, stayed the arrest of Governor Ram Naresh Yadav in connection with the Vyapam scam.

The Governor had moved the court seeking quashing of FIR against him the Special Task Force (STF) probing the case. Yadav had contended that criminal proceedings were contrary to provisions of Article 361(2) and Article (3) of the Constitution which grants immunity to the President and Governors while in office.

Though the court has stayed his arrest, the investigations against him will continue.

The FIR against Yadav, which is possibly the first against any Governor of Madhya Pradesh, was filed by the STF recently, alleging his complicity in the forest guard recruitment exam conducted by the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB).

He said that the FIR registered by STF appears to be false and frivolous prima facie, since it is based on the statement given by an accused who has already been in jail for more than one-and-a-half years since July 18, 2013.

A Special Task Force (STF) had registered an FIR against Yadav and 100 others in Fabruary this year.

Those named in the FIR include 88 candidates and 11 middlemen and other people.

They have been charged under relevant sections of the IT Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The manipulation in selection process for government jobs, conducted by Vyapam, is being probed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Yadav has been accused of writing a recommendation letter for favouring two youths from Uttar Pradesh. Based on that, the High Court had ordered the STF to register an FIR against the Governor.