Sharma also enjoyed the reputation of being very close to the Chief Minister. Sharma held several such departments which gave him ample opportunity to come in the contact with not only the masses but also influential persons in the field of culture, media films and education. The departments held by him included Information and Publicity, Culture and Higher and Technical Education. For some time, he also held the department of Mining. Normally, Information and Public Relations department is allocated to a minister who enjoys the confidence of the Chief Minister.

In view of this fact, most people believe that the Chief Minister could not have been ignorant of the activities of a Minister, who was so close to him. One of the important tasks of Sharma was projection of the image of the Chief Minister. Keeping this in mind, Opposition leaders are asking the Chief Minister to resign.

Sharma is a product of the RSS. He began his career as a teacher in an RSS run School. After entering politics, he became very popular in his constituency and won several elections in a row. He was very close to the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and other RSS stalwarts including Sarkaryavah Suresh Soni. What is revealed by Sharma to the police may have serious implications on the politics of the state.

The RSS claims that its training produces men of strong character and integrity. But due to the alleged misdeeds of persons like Sharma, this claim seems to be hollow.

As Culture Minister, Sharma organised several programmes, which promoted the ideology of the RSS. The Special Task Force of the MP police took more than six months to arrest Sharma. For the first time, Sharma was interrogated in the month of December 2013. The STF could not interrogate him before that because he was a minister. After his poll defeat, he lost his clout and then the STF initiated his interrogation. After the first round of interrogation, nothing happened till the month of June. It is learnt that further action was suspended because the party leadership - both of the state and at the centre - was weighing the pros and cons of his arrest. But the process of interrogation was resumed after the Bhopal visit of Dr. Bhagwat. Local newspapers carried the story that several activists of the RSS complained to Bhagwat that an impression was being created that action against persons like Sharma was being delayed because of the intervention of the RSS and that such reports were tarnishing the image of the RSS. After this, the process of Laxmikant’s interrogation was re-initiated.

Besides Laxmikant Sharma, another Sharma (Sudhir) is also wanted by the STF Sudhir Sharma, who is mining magnate is regarded as a close associate of Laxmikant Sharma. Despite several notices, Sudhir Sharma is not appearing before the STF. Now the STF has announced a cash award on clues leading to his arrest. The STF is also toying with the idea of auctioning his property if he does not surrender.

Meanwhile the STF has decided to examine Laxmikant Sharma in the presence of his OSD OP Shukla, who was instrumental in forwarding his recommendations to Professional Examination Board.

Earlier, Shukla told the STF that he was merely acting as a post office for the Minister. Meanwhile Leader of Opposition Satyadev Katare said probe into the Vyapam scam should be carried out by special investigation team (SIT) under monitoring of Supreme Court as it had now become one of the biggest scams in the education sector.

Katare reiterated Congress’ allegation that CM Shivraj Chauhan was behind the entire scam and he was the main accused. “Former minister Laxmikant Sharma surrendered as per the plan to save big fish in the case”, Katare said.

“Chief Minister Chauhan himself accepted in the Vidhan Sabha that 1,000 persons got government jobs through fraud in Vyapam scam and now his former minister has been nabbed by the STF. He must resign from the post,” he said. He further said that the CM’s Personal Assistant Prem Prasad was also an accused in the case and Chauhan knew where he was hiding. “The STF cannot conduct impartial inquiry into the scam till the chief minister remains on the post as the probe is against him also.” Alleging involvement of RSS bigwigs in the case, the Congress leader said there should be a proper investigation into the role of RSS senior functionary Suresh Soni. He accused Laxmikant Sharma, Pankaj Trivedi, Nitin Mahindra, Ajay Shankar Mehta and Sudhir Sharma – all accused in the scam - had vital information regarding the scam and they must be protected. “Their life is important for proper investigation in the case and police should provide them adequate security within jail and outside,” he said. (IPA Service)