Hubli: Janata Dal-United's (JD-U) Karnataka unit on October 22 demanded that the state government order a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the multi- crore fake stamp paper scam or else, it said, the Centre should step in to hold an inquiry by the Central agency as it involved different states.

JD-U state unit leader P G R Sindhia told reporters that only a CBI inquiry could throw light on the scam allegedly involving key player in it, Karimlala, now in Hubli jail, as it was spread to Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu also, apart from Karnataka.

He said that he would write a letter to Chief Minister S M Krishna and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee seeking a CBI probe.

Krishna should act at least now as all Opposition parties, including JD (U), JD (Secular) and left parties had been pressing for a CBI probe, he said.

On the hostage crisis issue involving JD (U) leader H Nagappa, he said that Krishna should meet his Tamil Nadu counterpart Jayalalithaa to secure the release of the former minister from the captivity of forest brigand Veerappan.

Centre as well as the governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu should work together to secure Nagappa's release, he said.

Taking exception to Krishna's criticism of the JD (U) leaders by accusing them of politicising the Nagappa issue, Sindhia said that their protests were natural and the Chief Minister's comments against 'janata parivar' was "not in good taste".

PTI