CBI heat makes Maya’s man sweat over a ‘forged’ Taj file

This, investigators claim, was written later, with a different ink. The sheet is being forwarded by the CBI to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL).

Despite repeated attempts, Siddiqui was unavailable for comment.

The CBI’s suspicion over the post-dated noting on the original file forms part of the agency’s interim report. During the hearing on August 21, the Supreme Court had instructed the agency to immediately seek expert advice on what they described as ‘‘interpolations’’ on the documents annexed with the report.

The reference was apparently to Siddiqui’s notings. The CBI team, at present in Lucknow, is collecting handwriting samples as well as other notings made by him. All this material will soon be sent to CFSL.

Sources say the May 21 approval from the Minister worked as the sanction for release of Rs 20 crore to NPCC and eventually culminated in the order sent by former Environment Secretary R K Sharma to the Director Environment (No 1109/55-03-10/Taj/2002) asking for release of the funds for the works done for the Taj project.

While the file was signed by the Minister, there was another noting in his handwriting with read: ‘‘How was the Rs 17 crores released?’’ Officials in the know say that even with a naked eye, the noting appears to have been written in a different ink and at a later date.

Moreover, they argue, if the Minister had indeed questioned the earlier sanction (disbursed to NPCC), it was impossible that the file would have moved smoothly through the Governments channels and got the final approval of the Governor.

The CBI suspects that the second noting was part of a cover-up and will await CFSL’s report before tackling this aspect of the investigation in its final report due to the Supreme Court before September 11.

Siddiqui has ‘‘special status’’ in the BSP. On August 25, when Mayawati was addressing her party workers at the national convention, Siddiqui was the only BSP leader who shared the dais with her and her mentor Kanshi Ram.

Siddiqui joined the BSP in 1986 and since then has remained loyal to the party. At present, he is one of the few leaders who has survived that long.

Two veterans associated with Kanshi Ram, Barkhu Ram Verma and R K Chaudhary were expelled by Mayawati two years ago. — (with Amit Sharma in Lucknow)