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One-on-one: Trivedi gives clean chit to former minister [Bhopal] [Times of India](Times of India Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) BHOPAL: Former higher education minister Laxmikant Sharma, accused in contract teachers' recruitment scam of MPPEB was confronted with key accused and board's former exam controller Pankaj Trivedi across the table. During the process, Trivedi gave a 'clean-chit' to former minister claiming he used to give him a list of candidates inquiring about their results but never asked to manipulate it, said STF sources. Sharma was confronted with Trivedi and his former officer on special duty (OSD) O P Shukla for about 30 minutes before being taken to the district court on Friday. Shukla said Trivedi used to visit Laxmikant Sharma at his residence but he hardly bothered what they discussed. Sharma, who has been arrested in connection with contractual teachers Grade II, recruitment scam-will again be confronted again the accused in the scam, said STF sources. Shukla, who was on the run ever since his name surfaced in the multi-crore MPPEB scam, was arrested after his surrender on April 4. He has been arrested for his alleged role in the Pre-Medical Test (PMT) 2012 examination scam. Shukla is also being probed for manipulation of results in recruitment of contractual teachers (Grade II & III) is already pending against the officer. Shukla was arrested in the PMT-2012 scam on statements of Dr Pankaj Trivedi who told STF. Earlier it was alleged that Dr Trivedi had told STF that he had handed over a share of Rs 84 lakh to Shukla at minister's bungalow. STF had lodged FIRs against Shukla, former minister Laxmikant Sharma and governor's OSD Dhanraj Yadav and 129 others on December 7 and 9. They were charged with forgery, criminal conspiracy and under the Information Technology Act on the basis of data recovered from the hard-disk of PEB's chief system analyst Nitin Mahindra. Shukla and the minister's name were found in the data. Mahindra would maintain a comprehensive list of those who recommended candidates to him, besides details of monetary transactions. Board's former exam controller Dr Pankaj Trivedi, assistant system analyst Ajay Sen and exam in charge C K Mishra are also accused in the case. (c) 2014 Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited |