Kolkata, Nov 27: Observing that the multi-crore fake stamp scam had a 'national dimension', CBI director P C Sharma today said the agency was competent to probe the case. He said he was not yet aware of the Mumbai High Court directive declining it immediate permission to probe the scam.
"The scam has a national dimension. We had earlier told the honourable High Court that we are ready to investigate the scam. I am telling you the same thing: we have competence to investigate it and we are ready to do it," Sharma said at a press conference here.
On investigations into the CAT paper leak scam, he said four persons, including alleged kingpin Ranjit Singh, had been arrested.
"But the geographical spread of the scam is vast. We are interrogating those arrested and trying to arrest the other touts involved," he said.
Asked whether there was any 'Kolkata connection' in the paper leak scam, Sharma replied in the negative.
Sharma, due to retire next month, declined comment about developments in the Dilip Singh Judeo case in the interest of investigations.
Asked about progress in having Abu Salem, prime accused in the Mumbai blast case, extradited from Portugal to India, Sharma said he was expecting the extradition proceedings to end soon.
"I hope and feel that the proceedings will come to an end soon," he said, adding so far, the CBI had not faced any difficulty with the proceedings.
Bureau Report