| Karnataka has been opposing such a move since the racket began to unfold 2 years ago. A decision to transfer these cases to the CBI was taken after a five-hour marathon meeting, in the wake of Finance Minister Jaswant Singh's statement on the issue in the Lok Sabha last week. |
| Speaking to the media after the meeting, Karnataka Home Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Till the scam case is formally handed over to the CBI, the ongoing investigations, being carried by the Karnataka Stamp Paper Investigation Team (Stampit) will continue. The special court, set up to hear the case, will also continue to function." |
| "Karnataka's position on the stamp paper scandal has been clear since the beginning. The state was the first to unearth this fraud and pursue the matter vigorously over the last 2 years, with the only objective of ensuring a thorough probe so that the culprits could be brought to book," Kharge stated. |
| The minister also recalled that Karnataka had brought to the notice of the finance ministry in July 2002 the circumstances under which the sensitive machinery of the Indian Security Press at Nashik had been allowed to fall into unscrupulous hands, leading to the perpetuation of the fraud on the nation, with serious economic consequences. |
| "We are happy to note that Union Finance Minister Jaswant Singh has lauded Karnataka s work in the Lok Sabha on December 19 and shared our anxiety for a thorough investigation by a centralized agency in national interest," Kharge affirmed. |
| In agreement with the observations made by Jaswant Singh, Kharge said: "If the prime accused Telgi is tried by one court or under one charge in Karnataka, then it would be difficult for us to charge him or try on the same charge or a similar charge elsewhere. Seeking a centralised investigation has become the rationale so that all those principal accused will not suffer from the debility of double jeopardy." |
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