BJP not demanding CBI probe into Telgi scam

The Bharatiya Janata Party is not demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the multicrore stamp paper scam, leader of the opposition in Maharashtra legislative assembly Nitin Gadkari said on Monday.

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai Gadkari said, "We had demanded a CBI inquiry long back. But now the demand to hand over the investigation case to the CBI is pending in Supreme Court. No one has any right to demand handing over investigation to the CBI because the matter is subjudice."

He demanded the SIT to investigate the Bangalore trip of the Congress-NCP MLAs and alleged that Antim Totla and Rehan Baig had hosted Democratic Front legislators in the city in 2002 when there was a move to topple the Vilas Rao Deshmukh-led government.

Gadkari alleged the Bangalore trip was arranged by Baig, brother of Karnataka Small Scale Industries Minister Roshan Baig,and Antim Totla and was financed by Telgi.

"Bhujbal is saying the Bangalore expenses were borne by Kripa Shankar Singh, Mr Singh is saying it was borne by Karnataka Chief Minister (S M Krishna), and Karnataka chief minister is saying the only expenditure was for chai-pani expenses. The SIT should investigate these issues," he said.