The Hindu Business Line : Naidu agrees to judicial probe into stamp scam

THE Chief Minister, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Friday conceded to the demand for a probe by a sitting Judge of the Supreme Court to look into various aspects of the multi-crore stamp scam which has now covered about 17 States in the country.

Replying to a marathon three-day debate on the stamp scam and criminalisation of politics, Mr Naidu also challenged the main opposition Congress to talk to its President and convince the Chief Minister's in the states ruled by them to order for a similar probe by a Supreme Court judge.

"Let us get to the bottom of this scam and take a collective action because this scam, wherein a TDP MLA and former minister, Mr Krishna Yadav, is alleged to have been involved, now covers 16 other States. According to information here, thus far 32 cases have been booked and of this two are out of AP which involve a total value of about Rs 9 crore of the total Rs 3,507 crore scam so far," he said.

Explaining that there was no complacency on the part of the Government to initiate necessary action, Mr Naidu said that the Government has constituted an enquiry by a senior police officer on the issue of any lapse or negligence on the part of the Government. A special investigating team is also looking into other aspects of the scam.

Earlier, the leader of the opposition, Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, said that the scam was worth Rs 32,000 crore and the moves by the State Government reflect that they were shielding some big guns and finding some scape-goats in the form of suspending junior police officers.

The last few years the credibility of the CBI and CB-CID as investigating agencies has been questioned. He wondered if a probe by them would be beneficial in anyway in bringing the culprits to the book.

Later, the Chief Minister sought to move a resolution to request the presiding officers of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and the Prime Minister for constitution of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to go into the entire matter of criminalisation of politics, and suggest measures for cleansing public life.

The committee will also be requested to study comprehensive measures for electoral, civil service and legal reforms and suggest ways for establishing good governance in the country.

While supporting the move to pass such a resolution, Dr Reddy sought certain changes so that they will cover the entire `criminal and mafia cabinet' of the State.

This lead to wild protests from the treasury benches. When the issue of alleged kickbacks in the Konaseema Power was also raked up by the Opposition, the Government stated that the letter on which it was based was forged.

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