Bhopal:
Laxmikant Sharma, the former Technical Education Minister of Madhya Pradesh, was arrested on Sunday by the Special Task Force (STF) team, which is investigating the multi-crore recruitment scam in the state.
The former minister was first picked up the STF team from his residence in Bhopal in the morning, and then arrested after hours of questioning at the STF's office.
During their investigation, the STF say, they have found that some candidates who appeared in the qualifying exam for the job on teacher-on-contract basis used unfair means. The exam is conducted by the Madhya Pradesh Professional Exam Board and these candidates were in touch with the former minister. Their roll numbers reached the officials of Madhya Pradesh Professional Exam Board through this channel and their marks were increased wrongfully so that they can qualify in the exam.
"Laxmikant Sharma has been booked under sections 420,468,467, 471 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 65, 66 of the IT act. He will be presented in court on Monday," Ashish Khare, Additional Inspector General STF, told NDTV.
A few months ago, Mr Sharma's Officer on Special Duty SK Shukla was arrested in this case. So far in this multi-crore scam - which includes recruitment of teachers, medical student and police officials using wrongful means - the STF has arrested over two dozen people including politicians, government officials.
The arrest of a former Minister is being seeing as a big achievement in the investigation. But the state Congress is not satisfied.
"Laxmikant should have been arrested six months ago. This recruitment scam has destroyed the career of over one crore in Madhya Pradesh. STF may have arrested a former minister but the investigation will remain incomplete till the main conspirators which run the MP government are arrested. And so we still demand a CBI enquiry into the matter," said Congress state President Arun Yadav.