Journalist covering Vyapam scam dies

Akshay Singh was working with Aaj Tak channel.

He earlier reportedly  interviewed parents of a girl Namrata Damor who was found dead near railway tracks after her name figured in the scam.

"Namrata's father Mehtab Singh Damor said Akshay and two others visited their house this afternoon. After the interview was over, someone was sent to get some papers photocopied," India Today reported.

"As Akshay was waiting outside Damor's house, suddenly he started frothing at the mouth. He was rushed to civil hospital and later to a private hospital, but doctors failed to revive him. From there he was taken to another hospital in nearby Dahod in Gujarat, where he was declared brought dead. Jhabua district's Superintendent of Police Abid Khan confirmed that a person named Akshay Singh had died in Meghnagar," read the report.

In a statement, the India Today Group said:"The India Today Group is deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Akshay Singh. Akshay had been working with Aaj Tak as a Special Correspondent since December 2013. Akshay died in the Jhabua District of Madhya Pradesh this afternoon."

"Akshay worked with the Special Investigation Team of Aaj Tak. He was an enterprising journalist who had many hard hitting investigations to his credit. He had been on an assignment in Madhya Pradesh investigating the Vyapam scam for the past four days. The cause of his sudden demise is not yet clear. We mourn the death of our valued colleague. Our thoughts and prayers are with Akshay's family. We hope that doctors and law enforcement agencies are able to establish the cause of Akshay's death," read the statement.

Several  people who were allegedly involved with the scam have been found dead so far.

Former J&K CM mourned the death of the journalist and tweeted:"Rest in peace Akshay."

The Congress also reacted to the death of the journalist and tweeted: "Congress Party is pained at & condoles the untimely death of Shri Akshay Singh,Aaj Tak/India Today reporter investigating Vyapam Scam in MP."

"His death, coming after more than 40 mysterious deaths of individuals associated with the Vyapam Scam raises very serious concerns and questions and needs to be investigated thoroughly and impartially," it said.

Demanding a post-mortem , Congress leader Digvijaya Singh tweeted: "Shocking ! Post mortem should be done in camera under supervision of senior Doctors preferably in Delhi."

Indore Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court earlier served notices to MPPEB and Medical Council of India (MCI) following a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by parents of some students after reports that more than 300 ineligible candidates managed to get into the merit list.