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Stamp paper scam: more arrests likely

By W. Chandrakanth

PUNE SEPT.18. The ongoing Special Investigation Team probe into the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam has entered a crucial stage.

With the decoding of the hard disc seized from Abdul Karim Telgi (the prime accused in the racket) being over, officials are `piecing together information and matching it with available intelligence.'

Based on the information so far available, SIT officials do not rule out further arrests though hard evidence of the scam in Andhra Pradesh is reportedly confined to Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. The police here are sure that the scam has much wider operations in Andhra Pradesh. It was not confined to the sale of fake stamp papers alone, they feel.

Officials believe that as in Maharashtra, the deal included transactions in non-judicial stamp papers, share transfers, foreign bills, insurance bills, revenue stamps, court fee stamps and special stamps of denominations ranging from Re. 1 to Rs. 5,000. The modus operandi of the gang was to catch brokers, builders, property dealers, insurance agents and lawyers to circulate the fakes. SIT officials are convinced that Hyderabad offered a high volume business and, hence, are now probing into the extent of Telgi's business in Andhra Pradesh. They have also not ruled out the penetration of the fakes in several districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh.

However, they do not seem to be happy about the AP police attitude to pressing charges against those found to be involved. Expressing dissatisfaction over the conduct of the A.P. police, they said: "Krishna Yadav's name doesn't even figure in the Begum Bazar case FIR''.

The officials are also aghast at the claims that no further arrests are possible. "The investigation is far from over. It is for the court to decide whether it is completed or not. How can anyone make far-fetched claims in this regard," they asked when their attention was drawn to the claims of the A.P. police and the Government to the contrary.

Admittedly, there is tremendous pressure on the SIT officials to complete the probe at the earliest. They are planning to file the final chargesheet around October 15 and the trial is all set to begin within a fortnight thereof. The grapevine has it that attempts are on to contain the political fallout. Further arrests after all are not in the interests of some political parties, the officials say.

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