Stamp scam: Maharashtra ready for CBI probe

The Maharashtra government on Tuesday agreed to handover the probe into the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Replying to a debate in the legislative assembly, Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said he has consulted Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and the government would have no objection if the central agency took over the investigations.

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He said the state government would soon file an affidavit before the Bombay high court, which is monitoring the investigations into the scam.

A Special Investigating Team constituted by the court has so far booked more than 50 policemen and officers, including former commissioner of police R S Sharma.

Bhujbal said a recent seizure made from the residence of one Abhay Bansal in Nashik was all out of circulation currency notes.

The deputy chief minister said Samajwadi Janata Party MLA, Anil Gote, now under arrest, "exploited his relationships with big shots in the political field," to help the prime accused in the case, Abdul Karim Telgi.

Bhujbal pointed out that Gote was an Opposition-sponsored candidate for the post of deputy speaker when the current Democratic Front government came to power.

He said: "Had he [Gote] been elected as deputy speaker, it would have been the worst ever blot on the state..."