New Delhi, Nov 22: In a bid to unearth the full magnitude of the Rs 30,000 crore fake stamp paper scam that has rocked several states, the Centre has decided to hand over to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the investigations despite reservations from Congress state governments in Karnataka and Maharashtra. This decision follows Allahabad High Court directive last week to Finance Ministry that the case be handed over to a central agency as these "rackets" were ruining the entire economy with ramifications in several states.
This decision was taken after Finance Minister Jaswant Singh last night referred the matter to the home ministry to get the scam investigated by the central agency.
It would now be formally referred to CBI by Monday, official sources said today.
CBI is already investigating seven cases related to the stamp paper in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Indian Security Press, Nashik. But Maharashtra and Karnataka, where the scam has spread far and wide, have ruled out handing over the stamp paper cases to CBI despite a reference from the Union Home Ministry.
CBI has already requested a formal direction from the finance ministry for registering a case which did not now require concurrence of state governments after direction from a high court or Supreme Court, sources said.
Bureau Report