The Hindu : Karnataka News : CBI should probe fresh allegations: Nanje Gowda

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 15, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

CBI should probe fresh allegations: Nanje Gowda

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JULY 14. The former Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader, H.N. Nanje Gowda, has said that the probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the stamp paper racket should encompass the allegations made by the former Assistant Commissioner of Police, T.G. Sangaram Singh.

Addressing presspersons here today, he said that the notification issued by the Union Government approving an investigation by the CBI into the scam should be amended to bring under its ambit Singh's allegations and ensure a complete probe.

Reports that the ransom paid to forest brigand Veerappan had reached the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam should be investigated. "That Veerappan is in touch with the LTTE is common knowledge," he added.

Mr. Nanje Gowda said that the "fresh suspects" in the stamp paper scam should resign immediately from their posts.

"Morality and ethics demand that they resign," he said. The Minister for Water Resources, M. Mallikarjun Kharge, who was then the Home Minister, should not hold any public office until he was cleared of the charges made against him.

It was unfortunate that the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, while answering a question on whether he proposed to include R. Roshan Baig in the Cabinet, said that it was left to the Congress High Command. Mr. Dharam Singh should have told the High Command that Mr. Roshan Baig should be kept out of the Ministry until he was cleared of the charges against him, he added.

Mr. Nanje Gowda said that if ransom had to be paid to Veerappan to secure the release of Kannada superstar Rajkumar, the Government should have "utilised its own resources" and "not taken money" from Abdul Karim Telgi, the prime accused in the stamp paper scam.

Referring to the allegations made by Sangram Singh, he said it was not clear what had prompted him to speak out. As he was an accused in a case, he should either plead guilty or innocent before the court. If he wanted to make a confession, he should abide by the procedure.

The court had so far not taken cognizance of Sangram Singh's statements.

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