Mumbai, Nov 22: The special investigation team (SIT), probing the multi-crore fake stamps and stamp-paper scam, today maintained that they would continue to probe the case despite reports that the Union Finance Ministry had asked CBI to take up investigations. Amid reports that the Union Finance Minister Jaswant Singh had asked CBI to probe the scam in the light of Allahabad High Court directive, SIT sources denied having received any communique from the central agency in this regard.
SIT sources said there was no question of the CBI taking over probe at least till November 27, the date on which the Mumbai High Court would hear progress of the probe.
CBI has already started a probe into the role of officials of Nasik-based India Security Press (ISP) in the scam, they said.
"Scamster Abdul Karim Telgi purchased printing machines from the ISP and it is suspected that senior ISP officials helped him to procure original printing plates of stamps and stamp papers," the sources said.
According to SIT officials, the opinion of the high court will be crucial before the central agency takes over the probe from SIT.
"The SIT is heading towards completion of probe into the stamps scam and has filed three supplementary chargesheets so far," sources said.
After it took over investigations of the scam in September 2000, the SIT filed three supplementary charge sheets on November 11 last year and March 27 and September 15 this year, the sources added.
Bureau Report