POURING OUT WOES: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy receiving petitions from residents of Dadada Kallahalli village near Mysore on Wednesday. — PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

DADADA KALLAHALLI (Mysore dist.): Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has hinted at the possibility of a fresh probe into the multi-crore stamp paper scam.

Responding to questions from presspersons on the stamp paper scam mastermind Abdul Karim Telgi's claim during narco-analysis that he had paid up to Rs. 2,000 crore to politicians and policemen in Karnataka and Maharashtra, Mr. Kumaraswamy said a decision on a fresh probe into the scam would be taken at an appropriate time.

"We have to see whether the Law Department will permit such a move. The Government will soon make its position clear on the future course of action on the stamp paper scam," he said.

But, Mr. Kumaraswamy was critical of the slow pace of progress in the CBI investigation into the matter. "After the Congress deliberately delayed the inquiry for four years, the CBI inquiry is also proceeding at a slow pace. The inquiry has also failed to bring the matter to light," he said.

`Degradation in politics'

Without referring to any political party in particular, Mr. Kumaraswamy said payment of such a large amount of money to politicians and policemen indicates degradation in politics.

"It is shameful," he said. Mr. Kumaraswamy was referring to the claims made by Telgi during the narco-analysis conducted on him at the Forensic Sciences Laboratory in Victoria Hospital during December 2003.

"If the Congress has any respect, it should come forward and unanimously press for expediting the CBI probe into stamp paper scam.The probe should help identify the real culprits and bring them to book. Unfortunately, the CBI probe is not in that direction," he said.

Earlier, Mr. Kumaraswamy arrived at Dadada Kallahalli village around 1.30 a.m. on Wednesday to a rousing reception from local people. Mr. Kumaraswamy entered the house of Dalit Cheluvaiah, which had been decked up for the Chief Minister's overnight stay and held a meeting with political leaders for some time. Later, he had dinner comprising ragi balls, spinach curry and pickles.

Mr. Kumaraswamy told presspersons that his "night outs" at remote villages were not a "publicity gimmick" as branded by his political rivals. "I am doing it because it came to my mind," he said.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said the condition in villages in old Mysore region was far better than the situation in villages of north Karnataka. "Villages in Raichur, Gulbarga, Bijapur and other places are facing problems," he said.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said he had chosen to stay at the house of a Dalit following the "advice" of his political rival. He was apparently referring to the challenge thrown at him by former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to stay at a Dalit's house.

Incidentally, Mr. Kumaraswamy had chosen a Dalit's house in Dadada Kallahalli, which is part of Chamundeshwari Assembly Constituency from where Mr Siddaramaiah has been contesting elections.

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