'Letter was forged'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 6. The Central Forensic and Scientific Laboratory (CFSL) has found that the letter opposing Air India's disinvestment, purportedly written by the Cabinet Secretary, Mr. T.R. Prasad, was forged.

The contents of the letter were read out in the Lok Sabha on August 23 by the Congress leader, Mr. Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, and it had created a furore in the House. As the Cabinet Secretary disclaimed the letter addressed to the Prime Minister's Office, the Disinvestment Minister, Mr. Arun Shourie, announced a CBI probe into the affair the following day.

Well-placed sources in the CBI said the CFSL has sent its report to the agency's Special Investigation Cell which is handling the case. It is learnt that CFSL has confirmed the CBI's initial finding that the letter was ``not genuine.'' The CBI has registered a case against ``unknown persons'' under Sections 466 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code and launched the probe to track down the conspirators behind it.

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Section  : National
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