The Supreme Court on Monday directed that all 48 stamp scam cases be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation and paved the way for custodial interrogation of key accused Abdul Karim Telgi by the agency.

The states from which the cases were being transferred must extend all cooperation to the agency, the court said.

The court directed the CBI to file a status report within four months and directed that no high court in the country would entertain any petition with regard to these 48 cases.

In Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde welcomed the decision.

The state government will cooperate with the CBI, he said.

Asked if the Special Investigation Team would be disbanded following the order, Shinde said he was yet to go through the entire verdict.