RSS in dock again, this time for appointment of MPPSC's chairman

BHOPAL: Amid a raging controversy over late RSS boss K Sudarshan's alleged recommendation of his confidante's name to MPPEB accused and former minister Laxmikant Sharma, another top RSS pracharak's name has surfaced for having influenced appointment of chairman of Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (PSC). Both scam-riddled boards are under investigation of special task force.
RTI activist Ajay Dubey alleged a senior pracharak had recommended Pradeep Joshi for the post of MPPSC chairman in 2006. Joshi was a professor at Rani Durgawati College Jabalpur.
"A recommendation note with a signature by Sangh pracharak Vinodji was enclosed with Joshi's bio-data when it was forwarded to chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan," said Dubey, who collected note sheets and other documents related to Joshi's appointment under RTI. Joshi is currently chairman of Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission.
"RSS appointed Joshi. And Joshi appointed S K Sharma as MPPSC exam controller in 2007. Linkages will surface only after a CBI probe," said Dubey, adding it took two years for PSC authorities to furnish documents on appointments.
S K Sharma, a principal in Government Arts & Commerce College (GACC), was appointed PSC exam controller by commission's then chairman, Pradeep Joshi. His deputation to MPPSC ended on January 27, but he continued on the post. Sharma was removed last week after his name surfaced in the Ayurveda Medical Officers (AMOs) paper leak case.
Special Task Force (STF) on Friday issued notice to Sharma seeking explanation on a 20-point questionnaire related to the paper leak case, said sources.
Appointments of chairman and controller of examinations in the scam-riddled Madhya Professional Education Board (PEB) and PSC - centralized gateways for recruitment of state government jobs - are now being suspected to be a part of a larger conspiracy to rig dozens of examinations over more than six years.
Pankaj Trivedi, who was a professor at GACC, was appointed PEB's exam controller despite objections from the then additional chief secretary, Ajita Bajpai Pandey, said sources. Trivedi was arrested for his role in multiple recruitment examinations eight months ago.
Initially former technical education minister Laxmikant Sharma, who was arrested for his alleged role in the PEB scam sent to jail on Thursday, was being accused of elevating Trivedi to the post of exam controller overlooking his ineligibility.
But during an interview with TOI (before being arrested), Sharma has shifted the onus on his bosses, claiming "Trivedi's name was recommended by someone else. I have nothing to do with his appointment".
Congress also launched a scathing attack on Sudhanshu Trivedi, BJP national spokesperson and political adviser to party president Rajnath Singh, accusing him of recommending Trivedi's name.
"Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan may claim there is no need for his government to hang its head in shame. But fact remains Trivedi and Sharma's appointments were made on political recommendations, which should be probed thoroughly to get into the root of the scam," former MLA Paras Saklecha told TOI.