Bhopal: From a trickle to a torrent of sordid details and arrests in the aftermath of busting of a honeytrap racket involving ‘power girls’ with a skewed agenda promises to match, if not eclipse, the infamous Vyapam scam of Madhya Pradesh in scale. Looking at involvement of women – by choice or otherwise and an assortment of other characters – targeting bureaucrats, politicians, businessmen and high and mighty, it should come as no surprise if its tremors are felt far and wide.
But there is also one point of asymmetry. If Vyapam had become the byword for all that was wrong and corrupt practices in selection of those aspiring for medical profession or recruitment, honeytrap scandal is all about sexcapades in exchange of big-ticket contracts and loads of free money. To the uninitiated, Vyapam even found mention in The Washington Post article for decadence in education system. In contrast, the honeytrap ring does suggest involvement of small town girls and women dirtying their hands for filthy lucre.
The sleaze details came out following the arrest of a five-member gang of women who honeytrapped several VVIPS, including a former governor, former organisational secretary of BJP state unit, former cabinet ministers, a senior IAS officer posted in the chief minister's secretariat in Shivraj Singh Chauhan's era, IPS officers, former member of Parliament, engineers, mediapersons and bureaucrats. The gang made several crores by blackmailing the VVIPS and businessmen by recording video clips of their sexual escapades. Police got the wind of the scam following a complaint file by Indore Municipal Corporation executive engineer Harbhajan Singh at Palasia on September 17. Soon, police arrested Arti Dayal and her accomplice Monica Yadav, who is a college student. After Arti's interrogation, raids were conducted in Bhopal and three more – Shweta Vijay Jain, Shweta Swapnil and Barkha Soni – were arrested.
The murkier details – objectionable video clips, blackmail and extortion – of the case point to all the trappings of a steamy potboiler and also beg a question. Whether the five women were operating on their own or were just pliant tool in hands of some more powerful persons operating from behind the scene.
Looking at the sensitivity of the case, the state government was quick to form a special investigation team (SIT) with ADG Sanjeev Shami as in-charge.
When it became clear that once lurid acts would be out, it would singe many irrespective of party affiliations or the posts officers hold in bureaucracy, politicians started issuing statements. Former minister and senior BJP leader Narottam Mishra demanded that the CBI be assigned the probe into the matter. If the state government does not go for CBI probe it would be considered that the government is involved in it, was his line of argument. And not to be left behind in this war of words, a minister saw a ‘sinister’ design of opposition to destabilize the ruling government.
To this, former chief minister Digvijaya Singh said, “BJP leaders want to hush up the matter like Vyapam.” He described the honeytrap an outcome of corruption in the 15-year rule of the BJP government. Narendra Saluja, media coordinator in PCC, went a step further. He alleged that Narottam Mishra is demanding CBI probe into the matter so that it meets the fate of Vyapam.
Congress's Kamal Nath-led government took charge in Madhya Pradesh after 15 years of BJP rule in December 2018.
It is a bit too early to point an accusing finger at those involved and compromised their position in exchange for sexual favours as those tasked with probing the matter have not come out with any names so far.
At this stage, it emerges five women were involved, who used sex workers and lured young college girls to do the nefarious job. It also came out that officers holding powerful positions were snared and later blackmailed to get big-ticket contracts. Commenting over the conduct of officers, a retired IAS officer expressed his shock. “It is quite a sad affair that senior officers compromise their position for sexual favours,” he said.
Going by the pace of the case it seems quite unlikely if any officer would ever get punished for what, according to many, is a clear example of moral turpitude.
Professor Tapan Mohan Mohanty, NLIU, says, “People now tend to believe that power is meaningless without perks and pelf. They think that being in power it is their legitimate right to enjoy privileges that come with power. Concept of power and privileges has always been associated with domination and enjoyment. Enslaving a beauty for pleasure with resistance from her is an exercise in power. It gives powerful persons kind of a kick and a feeling of superiority.”
Arun Gurtoo, retired IPS officer, known as an upright official all through, termed it extremely shameful. He said, “This is nothing new. Occasionally it comes to surface. Politicians and bureaucrats are protected. It will keep on occurring. History proves it is going to happen again.”
Describing conduct of officers shameful, he said “It is against service rules and what they have done is a criminal offence. The chief minister said those found involved in it would not be spared. Let us hope he is proved right this time.”
Vyapam is an admission and recruitment scam involving politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen in Madhya Pradesh. The crust is that undeserving candidates bribed politicians and officials of Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPBP), the body responsible for conducting entrance tests, through middlemen to get high ranks in the tests. Vyapam is the Hindi acronym for Vyavsayik Pareeksha Mandal.
Several people who tracked the case have died in a spate of suspicious incidents.
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