Vyapam recruitment scam : HC stays MP Governor Ram Naresh Yadav's arrest
The FIR lodged against state Governor Ram Naresh Yadav by Special Task Force (STF) in connection with a recruitment scam. The Governor had challenged the FIR claiming that he was immune to such action due to his constitutional authority.
The HC has only pronounced an its interim order and the detailed order in the case will be pronounced later. The FIR against Yadav, which is possibly the first against any Governor of Madhya Pradesh, was filed in February this year by the STF, alleging his complicity in the forest guard recruitment exam conducted by the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB).
Subsequently, Yadav had filed a petition in the HC for quashing the FIR against him filed by the STF probing the multi-layer MPPEB scam. Yadav's counsels Ram Jethmalani, Trivedi and Pateria had contended in the court that criminal proceedings against the Governor were contrary to provisions of Article 361 (2) and Article (3) of the Constitution, which grant immunity to the President and Governors while in office.
However, the STF had argued that criminal proceedings are not launched with the registration of the case. The criminal proceedings are considered launched after a charge sheet is put up in court, it had further contended.
On the other hand, the Governor's counsels argued that criminal proceedings start with the registration of FIR. The High Court had on April 13 reserved the judgement on the Governor's plea after hearing the parties concerned in the case.
Yadav had also said in his plea 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.
