Mumbai's Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection) Pradeep Sawant is likely to be transferred soon, a top Maharashtra home ministry official told rediff.com.

Sawant's role in the probe into the multi-crore stamp paper scam has been called into question by the Jaiswal Committee. The committee was set up by the Maharashtra government to probe the case.

Abdul Karim Telgi is the prime accused in the case and is alleged to forged stamp papers. The resultant loss in revenue to the government has been put at between 15,000-20,000 crore.

The official, however, said the transfer order has not been issued yet and the matter is under discussion.

Also Read Special: The Stamp of Corruption

The Special Investigation Team had recently questioned senior police officials, including Sawant and Assistant Commissioner of Police Ramakant Paudwal, regarding the scam.

When the Mumbai police managed to get custody of Telgi, they took him to his house in Cuffe Parade instead of the crime branch headquarters. That is where the special investigating officer, Deputy Inspector General Subodh Jaiswal, found Telgi and the policemen partying.

The commission also passed strictures against Mumbai Police Commissioner R S Sharma.

Recently Jaiswal had visited the head of Mumbai crime branch Joint Commissioner of Police Dr Satyapal Singh. There was speculation that Jaiswal had met Singh to apprise him of the findings of the commission regarding Sawant.

But Singh, who refused to say what the meeting was all about, had said, "Jaiswal is a long term friend and there is nothing new in meeting him."