Nagpur: Observing that Mumbai High Court dismissing Maharashtra Government's appeal to hand over the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam probe to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was not a "setback" to the Government, Minister of State for Home Kripa Shankar Singh today (Dec 17, 2003) said the State Government would wait for the Supreme Court's decision in this regard.

Government was always in favour of investigation through special investigation team (SIT), but due to Opposition demand it was handed over to CBI, Singh told reporters after the Mumbai High Court ruled out the handover of the probe to CBI from SIT.

Leader of Opposition in State Legislative Council, Nitin Gadkari (BJP) said the fake stamp paper scam was a fit case for CBI, as it was spread over several States. He said help from the Interpol too would be required and only CBI was competent enough to conduct the investigation.

He said State Government had earlier rejected the demand of transfer of probe to CBI even when Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani had advised to do so.

He alleged that Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal did not seek legal opinion before going to high court, seeking transfer of case to CBI. The Government has thus committed a contempt of court by going to high court even when the matter was subjudice, he said.

SIT should take action against Bhujbal on the basis of letter addressed to State Governor by a main accused Dilip Kamath, a police officer who is presently lodged in Yerwada jail in Pune. Kamath had "exposed" the nexus Bhujbal and his nephew Sameer Bhujbal had with kingpin of scam, Abdul Karim Telgi, he added.

PTI



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