Bhopal: After nearly a decade of legal proceedings, the much-discussed Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh has finally reached a verdict. Seven individuals implicated in the case have been found guilty and sentenced to seven years in prison each, along with a fine of Rs 10,000 imposed on each of them. However, 12 accused have been acquitted due to insufficient evidence. The scandal, involving irregularities in recruitment examinations, came to light in 2013, resulting in a total of 21 individuals being charged, two of whom have since passed away.

The verdict was delivered by a special CBI court on Tuesday after hearing arguments from both sides. Over the course of the investigation, 41 individuals connected to the case have reportedly died. Among those implicated was Shailesh Yadav, son of the former Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Ram Naresh Yadav. However, the trajectory of the case shifted dramatically following Shailesh's sudden and suspicious death on March 25, 2015, throwing the spotlight on Ram Naresh Yadav, who was also accused in the scam. Former Chief Minister Shivraj Chauhan was among those who scrutinized Ram Naresh Yadav's involvement.

The Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (Vyapam) was responsible for conducting various entrance and recruitment exams in the state, including those for medical and engineering courses. Allegations surfaced against Vyapam suggesting that government positions were being illicitly obtained through collusion, with fraudulent practices observed in college admissions as well. The scandal gained traction when rumors surfaced about thousands of fake recruitments, including over 500 dubious appointments in medical colleges.

In 2013, during the MBBS recruitment examination, authorities apprehended fake candidates, leading to the discovery of a fraudulent recruitment syndicate. Dr. Jagdish Sagar, a key figure in the investigation, implicated then Education Minister Laxmikant Sharma during interrogations. Consequently, on June 16, 2014, Laxmikant Sharma, who also chaired Vyapam at the time, was arrested.

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