Telgi scam: Pawar not averse to central help

Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Thursday said the Maharashtra government should seek help from central investigative agencies in the multi-crore fake stamp paper racket even as he praised the state's police for their thorough investigation.

The NCP is a major partner in the Democratic Front government in Maharashtra.

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"Since the matter has surfaced in Delhi, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh among other states, it would be better if the Maharashtra government sought the help of central investigative agencies," he told reporters at the Indore Press Club.

However, Pawar said, "it would not be proper to take it (the probe) away from the state police and hand over the matter to the CBI as it may affect their morale. The matter is before the high court, which may also give a direction in this regard."

He denied NCP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal involvement in the scam.

"If anybody in the NCP is found involved in the scam, the party would take action against him," Pawar said.