Mumbai, July 8: The multi-crore CRB scam on Tuesday hogged the limelight in the Maharashtra legislative assembly with the opposition Congress demanding a special discussion on the issue.

As soon as Kirit Somaiya (BJP) rose to ask a supplementary on the main question about the proposed second international airport near Mumbai during the question hour, Congress members started shouting slogans. "CRB war charcha zalich pahije," (debate must be held on the CRB scam) was the refrain of the shouting brigade, which kept on interrupting Somaiya, whose name has allegedly been linked with the scam.

He, in turn, has repeatedly denied it.An aggressive Somaiya retorted that he was ready to discuss the issue anytime and with anyone. He claimed that he was in possession of information about those involved in the scam.Somaiya said he was ready to disclose the names inside the house or outside. "Let me make my statement as I have substantial documents to clear my name. I am ready for a discussion," he said, brandishing certain documents, apparently connected with the scam, to the members. Amid commotion, the leader of the opposition, Madhukar Pichad, raised a point of order asking the speaker Datta Nalavade why Somaiya was allowed to speak when the issue was not before the house for discussion. Other Congress members also stood in the aisle supporting Pichad. Some members tried to raise the point of procedure whether Somaiya took prior permission to speak or whether he had given a notice on the issue. The speaker said he asked Somaiya to sit down and he would be permitted to make his statement at a suitanle time. The clamour by the members would not be taken on record, he ruled. uNalavde said he would not allow any member to speak by raising the point of procedure. The member can raise the point of order but the ruling on it would be given by speaker.Chief minister Manohar Joshi intervened and said the government was ready to hold a debate on the issue. He added that if Somaiya discloses proofs in his possession certain members from opposition could land in trouble.Later, Somaiya told reporters that the speaker had allowed him to raise the point and not make a statement. Grilled by reporters, he failed to reveal the names involved in the scam. However, he added that when RBI gave its clearance to CRB, the BJP was not in power.Somaiya said that he was ready to face "any" inquiry and clarified neither was he in any way connected to CR Bhansali nor had he accepted money.Meanwhile, the city police has accorded top priority to trace and unearth funds allegedly misappropriated by the CRB group of companies. Police sources said they have received to date over 500 complaints against the company and its chairman Chain Roop Bhansali, who is currently facing trial.cer¬Ut›:¼Tt›owing the "satisfactory" response given by the state government, the World Bank has recently decided to give extension to the railways for the MUTP-II loan proposal, he added. a¬Ut›X9¬Ut›hey may deem fit, keeping in view the return on deployment of such funds. However, the required foreign exchange should be purchased from the market and not claimed from RBI, the central bank has said.Continued on Page 2TAMALContinued from Page 1Reserve Bank will allow reinvestment of funds under FCNR(B) with retrospective effect only in those cases where the banks have failed to carry out the instructions of the clients for redeployment of the funds. However, even in these cases, the central bank will not offer any exchange cover for the period beyond the maturity of the deposits.Forex dealers feel the matured FCNR(A) deposits will find their way into bank accounts within the country and strengthen the rupee vis-a-vis dollar.un¬Ut›T6¬Ut›e as a major setback. The loss will, however, be partly offset by the fact that the firm has clinched the merged Hindustan Lever account. Among Lovelock's other important clients are CESC, Goodricke Group, Tata Tea, Magor, ICI, Rallis India and Berger Paints.

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