Bangalore, Nov 18: Karnataka government today said it was "firm" in its stand not to refer the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam to the CBI for investigation. "We have already completed the investigation. The special court will begin trial in about eight to ten days," state Home Minister M Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters when asked whether the state would refer the scandal to the CBI in the light of the Allahabad High Court directive to the Centre to inquire into the racket.

Kharge expressed surprise over repeated demands by opposition parties for a CBI probe into the scam, saying the state government has made repeated declarations of its resolve against seeking the central agency's help in the probe. Since the investigation had been completed by the special team `stampit', no purpose would be served in asking the CBI to investigate it now, Kharge said.

The stampit has already filed ten chargesheets against the accused persons including the alleged kingpin Abdul Karim Telgi and one more would be filed soon, he said.

The Chief Justice of the state high court, N K Jain, has accepted the government plea for setting up a special court to try the accused in the scam and a judge was expected to be named soon. Kharge said, in other states, including in Maharashtra, police were still investigating and no chargesheets had been filed.

He, however, said if the CBI sought any information, the state was willing to cooperate.

Bureau Report