Probe into fake bill scam begins

The Inspector General of Police of BMTF, Dr Rajvir P Sharma said the documents made available to the task force to probe the case was not enough. “After seven days of the registration of the case, we have finally begun the probe. We have to identify the accused, gauge the magnitude of the case and find out the people involved in the conspiracy,” the senior IPS officer said.

Looking into the enormity of the case, the officer said the inquiry may take at least six months to complete. “Misappropriation to the tune of hundreds of crores of rupees has taken place in a span of three-and-half years. The case came to us seven days ago. It can’t be a time-bound investigation. Probe into such cases cannot be done in a hurried manner,” he added.

He made it clear that the investigation would be fair and free. “We don’t want anyone to feel aggrieved. Only the guilty should be worried about it.”

Regarding the apprehensions of the JD(S) leader in the Council Padmanabha Reddy that the BMTF has no expertise to probe the matter, Sharma said, BMTF is more equipped than any other agency in the State. “We have town and country planners, revenue officers and police officers.

No other police body has so much of expertise as we have. But we may need more hands as the investigation progresses,” said the BMTF chief. Mayor Sharadamma, who returned from the US on Thursday, said the decision to hand over the case to the BMTF was taken in her absence. She suggested Commissioner Siddaiah to consider debating the matter in the Council and seek approval of the House.

Floor leader of the House B R Nanjundappa opposed handing over of the case to the BMTF. He suggested that a joint panel of all the parties in the Council could probe the case.

Deputy mayor S Harish said the supremacy of the Council should have been taken into account before handing over the case to the BMTF. He, however, welcomed the probe saying that guilty must be punished.