Forensic lab report on `forged' letter in a week: CBI

NEW DELHI, AUG. 26. The Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory (CFSL) will take about a week to examine and submit its report on the genuineness of the letter alleged to have been written by the Cabinet Secretary, Mr. T.R. Prasad, to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) opposing the disinvestment of Air India.

The Central Bureau of Investigation sent a copy of the `forged' letter to the CFSL yesterday for the opinion of the handwriting experts.

According to CBI officials ``the CFSL will take about a weeks time to send its response''.

The officials denied that they had in any way ascertained that the letter was a forged one saying that investigation had begun and it was too early to comment on the issue.

``We are awaiting the CFSL's response and once that comes then we will formulate opinion on the issue.''

Certain media reports quoting CBI officials this morning had indicated that after a preliminary inquiry, the CBI had found that the letter was a forged one.

They did not rule out the possibility of questioning a few people including the Congress chief whip in the Lok Sabha, Mr. Priya Ranjan Dashmunshi.

The agency is seeking legal opinion on questioning the senior Congress leader who had placed a copy of the letter before the Lok Sabha on August 23.

The Disinvestment Minister, Mr. Arun Shourie, intervened and said that the matter was being referred to the CBI for investigation.

Mr. Prasad denied having written any such letter to the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister or even seeing it.

This is the first time in the recent past that such a matter had been forwarded to the CBI for investigation.

If the law permits, Mr. Dasmunshi would be examined to ascertain from where he got the letter.

The Congress leader, however, has refused to state anything before the CBI.

- UNI

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