The Supreme Court on Friday, 13 January, granted bail to Vyapam scam whistleblower Dr Anand Rai, in a case of alleged violence during a dharna in Madhya Pradesh.
Vyapam scam? The scam is related to illegalities involving the children of top-notch politicians and bureaucrats, who were selected in Madhya Pradesh's medical entrance examinations without appearing for them.
The scam draws its name from the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB), also known by its Hindi Acronym 'Vyapam,' which is responsible for conducting these examinations.
The dharna case: However, the current hearing was related to him allegedly being part of a mob that attacked the district collector.
While granting him bail, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, who was hearing the case along with Justice Narasimha remarked:
"This man is an ophthalmologist. The allegation is that he was part of a mob which attacked the collector. How long will you keep him inside?"
When was he arrested? Rai was arrested on 15 November last year. The trial judge refused him bail on 17 November.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court too dismissed his bail application on 12 December. He then approached the top court.
How is this related to the vyapam scam? Rai, in his petition before the top court, said that he was imprisoned as a result of "conspiracies" against him by government functionaries for having unearthed the scam.
"The entire past record of the Applicant is unblemished and is without any objectionable nature except false implication in the cases launched due to political vendetta," he said.
(With inputs from LiveLaw.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)