A special court in Indore delivered a significant verdict on Friday, convicting thirteen individuals for their roles in a sophisticated impersonation and cheating racket connected to the Madhya Pradesh Pre-Medical Test (MP PMT) of 2011. This case is a notable offshoot of the sprawling Vyapam scam that rocked the state.
The Verdict and the Accused
Additional Sessions Judge Shubhra Singh pronounced the accused guilty under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Madhya Pradesh Recognized Examination Act, 1987. The charges included criminal conspiracy, cheating by impersonation, forgery of valuable security, and cheating.
The thirteen convicted persons are: Ashish Yadav, Satyendra Verma, Dheerendra Tiwari, Brijesh Jaiswal, Durga Prasad Yadav, Rakesh Kurmi, Narendra Chaurasiya, Abhilash Yadav, Khoob Chand Rajput, Pawan Rajput, Lakhan Dhangar, Sunderlal Dhangar, and Brijesh Jaiswal. This group comprised the original candidates, the impersonators who took the test for them, and the middlemen who orchestrated the entire fraud.
A fourteenth accused, who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, faced separate proceedings. The Juvenile Justice Board in Indore had already adjudicated his matter on July 9, 2022, imposing a penalty and bond under the Juvenile Justice Act.
How the Fraud Unfolded and Was Uncovered
The case originated on July 24, 2011, when Satyendra Verma was caught red-handed while impersonating candidate Ashish Yadav during the MP PMT examination at the Sashkiya Utkrasta Vidyalaya in Indore. The school's vice-principal filed a formal complaint, leading to a First Information Report (FIR) at the Tukoganj police station.
Initially, the state police filed a charge sheet against only two accused. However, the scale of the conspiracy demanded a deeper probe. Following directions from the Supreme Court of India, the case was re-registered and transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a comprehensive investigation.
The Organized Network Exposed by CBI
The CBI's probe peeled back the layers of an organized criminal network. Investigators found that middlemen operated a well-coordinated scheme where they arranged for impersonators to sit the crucial medical entrance exam on behalf of candidates who paid for the service.
The impersonators were specifically brought to Indore, lodged in a hotel, and then sent to the examination center with forged documents and admit cards. The CBI built a strong case based on documentary evidence, hotel records, and disclosures made during the investigation, which conclusively established the criminal conspiracy.
Wider Implications and Conclusion
This conviction marks another chapter in the long and complex legal battle surrounding the Vyapam scam, which involved massive irregularities in professional entrance tests and recruitment processes in Madhya Pradesh. The court's decision underscores the legal consequences for those who attempt to undermine the integrity of public examination systems.
The handing over of the case to the CBI on the Supreme Court's orders proved pivotal in uncovering the full extent of the network, highlighting the importance of independent investigation in cases of institutional fraud. The sentencing for the thirteen convicted individuals will follow, closing a case that has spanned over a decade.
