The fake stamp paper scam probe has shifted focus from the police to the bureaucracy with the arrest of a retired deputy superintendent of stamps today. Baban Tukaram Ranjane was charged under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act and was remanded to police custody till December 16. Until now, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by former DGP S.S. Puri had concentrated on the role of police officers in the scam. The emphasis has now shifted to the registration wing of the revenue department. A week ago, the SIT had sought information from Inspector General of Stamp Nitin Karir on the procedure adopted for granting stamp vendor licences, the number of licenses given since 1995, and the role of officials involved in the process. The SIT has already recorded the statement of the then Superintendent of Stamp R.L. Mopalwar since he was the first to lodge a complaint against Abdul Karim Telgi in 1995. Ranjane, who has been accused of abetting Telgi, was questioned thrice before he was arrested. The prosecution today submitted that though he was aware of Telgi’s illegal activities in collusion with other officers of the General Stamp Office, he remained a spectator. Chief Public Prosecutor Raja Thakre said the accused had failed to take action against the three firms belonging to Telgi. The SIT is likely to question more stamp officials. SIT sleuths grilled Deputy Commissioner of Police Pradip Sawant today, the fifth such session in a fortnight. He has been asked to present himself for further questioning on Tuesday.
