Inspector General (Intelligence) Sridhar Vagal, now under arrest in Pune for his role in the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam, has been placed under suspension.

The suspension order was issued on Thursday, Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) V N Deshmukh said.

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Deshmukh said if a government officer remains under arrest for more than 48 hours, he is suspended automatically.

Vagal, the first Indian Police Service officer to be arrested in connection with the stamps scam, has been booked under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act. He was arrested in Mumbai on November 7.

The Bombay high court has appointed former director general of police, S S Puri, to head the Special Investigation Team set up to probe the scam.

Vagal is accused of abusing his position when he was the joint commissioner of police to grant favours to Telgi.

He allegedly fabricated evidence to save Telgi and received a bribe of Rs 72 lakh from the master scamster.

Complete coverage of the stamps scam | The Telgi tale