NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal and IAS officer Radheshyam Mopalwar can heave a sigh of relief after fake stamp paper scam kingpin Abdul Karim Telgi’s death as he had made allegations against them for their involvement in the Telgi scam. After Telgi’s narco-analysis test he had claimed Pawar and Bhujbal of receiving payments but they denied. Telgi also had made allegations against Mopalwar who had issued stamp vendor licence to him. It is alleged that licence was issued to Telgi a month after the receipt of application in February 1995 bypassing hundred other applications that were not cleared for at least two years. As per a probe conducted by Special Investigation Team (SIT) it has been revealed that licence was granted to Telgi within a month due to the recommendation of the then revenue minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. When four cases were filed against Telgi and his associates Mopalwar was the superintendent of stamps. He was the first person to lodge a complaint against Telgi. Telgi had filed an application to take action against Mopalwar as an accused in the case.
Anil Gote, BJP MLA said, “When Telgi scam had occurred the then Congress government was in power. At that time, I had demanded Sharad Pawar and Chhagan Bhujbal’s narco-analysis test should be conducted for ascertaining the truth. The real culprits are roaming scot-free. I have already forwarded a letter to PM and court to take action against them.”
Justice BG Kolse-Patil, former Bombay High Court judge said, “No action will be taken against legislators due to lack of evidence. Narco-analysis test enables the police to conduct investigation properly. Most often action is not taken against accused politicians.”
SM Mushrif, retired IPS officer and former IGP Maharashtra said, “When Telgi was arrested in Pune in 2002 then I was deputed in crime branch. I was probing the cases of corruption against Telgi from 1992-93 onwards. When I was carrying out further investigations about him I was ousted from crime branch. If CBI can start fresh probe then more information can be unveiled. The findings of narco-analysis test can’t resolve this case but CBI should investigate it thoroughly.”
Raju Shetti, Swambimani Shetkari Sanghatana chief said, “The Telgi case has not been investigated properly. The accused have siphoned off tax payers money by indulging in corruption activities. People were thinking that they were contributing to state exchequer by purchasing stamp papers but Telgi derived benefit out of it. If a narco-analysis test is conducted today then more people can be nabbed.”
Advocate Abbas Kazmi said, “Action can be taken against Sharad Pawar and Chhagan Bhujbal if evidence is available against them. It has to be mentioned to the court that their name has appeared in the evidence and then they can be arrested.”
