Bhopal: Seventy doctors and medical students accused in the Vyapam scam and lodged in Gwalior Central Jail have in a letter requested the President to allow them to commit suicide, saying they have been behind bars for long and their “future is dark”. They alleged they are victims of “judicial disparity”.

Copies of the letter were also sent to the Prime Minister’s Office, Chief Justice of India, Madhya Pradesh high court, National Human Rights Commission and Union home minister, among others. The accused had signed the letter during the hearings at court.

They said while some Vyapam accused facing similar charges under same sections of Indian Penal Code in Jabalpur and Bhopal had been given bail by different courts, including the high court, “we continue to languish in Gwalior jail”.

“We have been in jail for long, our families are suffering. Our economic condition is deteriorating,” the letter said.

“Negative thoughts like committing suicide have devastated us as we continue to face psychological and social problems,” the accused said, Timesof India, reported.

Fifteen days ago, five medical students in Gwalior, accused in Vyapam scam but later cleared by a state-level probe, had also written to the President to allow them to commit suicide.