Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh today demanded probe by CBI into “illegal” clinical trials of drugs in Madhya Pradesh and the “scam” in the Pre-Medical Test conducted earlier this year by the state Professional Examination Board (MPPEB).
“We (Congress) are sure that neither state police nor Lokayukta would probe the pre-medical test scam or even the drug trials and hence we are seeking CBI probe into these cases,” Digvijay told reporters here.
Indore police had busted the gang of impersonators involved in the PMT scam and arrested its alleged kingpin Jagdish Sagar recently.
Police also arrested two officials of the Professional Examination Board (PEB) responsible for conducting exams for professional and other courses in Madhya Pradesh after Sagar’s arrest.
“A number of ineligible students have secured admission in MBBS course due to the scam. Despite the wrongdoings coming to the surface, the state government is bent on making new recruitments through the MPPEB,” Digvijay alleged.
The demand for CBI investigation came close on the heels of Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh seeking similar inquiry, alleging that the scam was connected to the top echelons of power.
Digvijay alleged that at least 100 people lost their lives due to illegal clinical trials of drugs conducted at various hospitals in the state.
According to NGOs and some doctors, illegal and unethical clinical trials were conducted on poor persons including juveniles, tribals and Dalits who were used as “guinea pigs” for testing of drugs and vaccines produced by multinational corporations.
The supreme court had last year expressed concerns over such trials, saying it’s “unfortunate” that humans were being treated as “guinea pigs”.
“Clinical trials can not be conducted on anyone without informing his or her family members but this rule was flouted in Madhya Pradesh,” Digvijay alleged.