Governor Yadav should resign on moral ground: Pachouri

Welcoming the Supreme Court's decision to hand over probe into all Vyapam scam cases and related deaths to the CBI, Congress today said Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav should now tender his resignation on moral grounds.
"We welcome the apex court's historic and bold decision to hand over the Vyapam scam investigation to CBI. Besides, the Governor should resign on moral ground following a notice served to him," former Union Minister Suresh Pachouri told reporters at a hurriedly convened press conference here.
The Supreme Court today ordered CBI probe into all Vyapam scam cases and related deaths and also issued notice to the Centre, the Madhya Pradesh government and the Governor on a plea seeking his removal over his alleged involvement in the scandal.

The apex court's order transferring all Vyapam-related cases to the CBI came after the state government gave its consent to shifting investigation from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the Special Task Force (STF).
Pachouri also said his party will pray to the Supreme Court to monitor the CBI probe as well.
Asked whether he doubts the Central agency's probe, given that he had earlier headed the Union Ministry for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions under which the CBI comes, Pachouri said it is a "competent and independent" premier agency.

"We want that the documents in possession of the investigators should now be handed over to the CBI. They should not be destroyed," he demanded.

To a poser, he said Congress will go ahead with its plan of Madhya Pradesh bandh on July 16 over the Vyapam scam.
When asked about the Supreme Court's notices to the Governor and others on a petition seeking Yadav's removal for his alleged involvement in the scam, Pachouri said he should resign from the gubernatorial post on moral grounds.
"Serving notice is a serious matter," he said.
The petition, filed by a group of lawyers, had sought removal of Yadav on the ground of his alleged involvement in the massive admission and recruitment scam in the state and recording of his statement in the case.

The STF probing the Vyapam scam had earlier filed an FIR against Yadav, but it was quashed by the MP High Court citing the constitutional immunity he enjoys while in office.
Massive fraudulent admissions and recruitments have taken place under the multi-crore Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) scam, also known as Vyapam scam.
Some politicians, including former MP minister Laxmikant Sharma, and top officials had been arrested in connection with the scam which is said to have claimed over 40 lives, including that of witnesses.