What exactly is the "Vyapam" scam? Why have so many died because of it?

Since Balaji has mentioned the entire history behind the Vyapam Scam, let me just share my side of the story, as I have lived through the Vyapam scam.

The year was 2012 when I took the medical entrance exams. I had qualified the prelims of AIPMT, so I was pretty hopeful that I'd get a medical college through MPPMT (Madhya Pradesh Pre Medical Test) as well. I had scored a 148 out of 200 in MPPMT. I had heard about the stories of impersonation during exams, but I accepted whatever I had scored. Yet, I believed that I could be eligible to join a private medical college.

Turns out that a friend of mine, who comes from a family of wealthy doctors, and had scored 15 marks lesser than I did, got a seat in the best private medical college of the state even *before* the counselling of the private colleges were held.

When we went to Bhopal for the counselling of the private medical colleges, the panel refused to hold the counselling saying the seats had already been taken by better candidates. When it was discussed between parents that the students who had scored way lesser than the present candidates had gotten the seats already, all the parents disapproved of it. There was a huge ruckus in the counselling centre. Finally, the police was called to calm things down.

Perhaps my score was not good enough to get a seat in a medical college, perhaps I was lesser deserving than the others, my concern is that why was I not given a fair chance to the seats? Why, a candidate who had scored 133, got a seat over me? The insincere girls who came to my coaching, and literally knew nothing about the subjects throughout the year, are studying MBBS, and I am not?

These are just a few unanswered questions that I have. Imagine there are so many out there who have similar questions. Some have, over the years, even questioned their ability over others.

This is what the scam is about. I have no idea how deep this could be. I have suffered through this too and some of my friends have too. I am really hoping that the guilty are punished soon.