Bangalore: A retired senior police official today (July 17, 2004) told a court he wanted to make a confessional statement in connection with the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam.

Counsel representing former assistant commissioner of police Sangram Singh told the court in Bangalore that he wanted to make a confession, even as he charged that the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) had not properly recorded the former police official's statements.

Arguing before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate V H Sambrani, he pleaded that Singh be allowed to make a confessional statement in the court, saying the CBI had recorded only 20 per cent of his statements.

Singh, suspended by the Karnataka Government on February 28, was arrested by the CBI on July 7 in connection with the scam. He raised a storm of controversy after accusing former Chief Minister S M Krishna, Union Minister Gulam Nabi Azad and former minister D K Shivakumar of trying to make him a scapegoat to protect former minister Roshan Baig who had to quit the Krishna ministry after being linked with the scam.

The counsel said Singh was aware of the "dangerous consequences" of making a confession, but wanted to go ahead, regardless, for the "greater good of the nation".

The CBI counsel said they were not against Singh's confession but argued that, "The timing of the event could have an impact on the course of the ongoing investigation."

The magistrate posted the matter for further hearing on Monday. Meanwhile, Dr K N Channakesavaiah, who was arrested by CBI for allegedly giving false medical certificates to Abdul Karim Telgi, prime accused in the scam, has been remanded to judicial custody till July 31.