The Hindu : STAMPIT efforts undervalued?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 27, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

STAMPIT efforts undervalued?

By B.S. Ramesh

BANGALORE Nov. 26. Even as the demand for an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the multi-crore stamp paper racket is being made in the State, not many are aware that the State Government has permitted the Stamp Paper Investigation Team (STAMPIT), which is investigating the racket, to seek the assistance of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if necessary.

The Government has sent a communication to STAMPIT, headed by the Additional Director General of Police and Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, R. Srikumar, authorising it to seek CBI assistance in the investigation of the racket.

The racket came to light when Upparpet police arrested some persons on the charge of selling fake stamp papers in Bangalore. After an initial probe by the city police, the Government set up STAMPIT, and so far the team has arrested 54 persons and recovered fake stamp paper and embossed papers worth hundreds of crores of rupees.

Apart from detecting many aspects of the case in Karnataka, STAMPIT has been in constant touch with the CBI and police in other States such as Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

Sources say clues provided by STAMPIT enabled the CBI to make progress in the investigation in Gujarat. The clues led to the arrest of many persons and the recovery of fake stamp papers worth crores of rupees in various cities.

Sources say that on receiving information about the properties and other assets of Abdul Karim Telgi, the prime accused in the racket, and his associates, STAMPIT officials passed it on to the Income-Tax Department and other authorities.

The team has received compliments from the Union Government, including a letter from the Union Finance Minister, Jaswant Singh. In his letter to STAMPIT, Mr. Singh commended the team for helping the State Government generate additional revenue through increased sale of non-judicial stamps. He sought better cooperation between Maharashtra and Karnataka in completing the investigation and bringing the culprits to book.

Sources say STAMPIT used sophisticated equipment to tap conversations on cell phones between Telgi and others. The leaders who are demanding a CBI inquiry do not realise that they are negating the work done by STAMPIT, they add.

Mr. Srikumar on Tuesday attended a national conference in Delhi and gave a presentation on the stamp paper racket.

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