Stamp scam: Telgi, 2 others convicted

A special court today convicted Abdul Karim Telgi, kingpin of the multi-crore fake stamps and stamp paper racket, for his role in a 1995 case in which he was accused of selling fake stamps worth around Rs 17 lakh.

This is the first case in which Telgi has been convicted.

Telgi, lodged in Yerwada prison in Pune, took part in the court proceedings through video-conferencing.

Special Judge U D Salvi also convicted his associates Sanjay Gaikwad and Ram Ratan Soni and said the three would undergo rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and pay Rs 50,000 fine. Public Prosecutor Pradeep Sharad sought life term for the accused but the three pleaded clemency on "humanitarian grounds".

Telgi urged the court to show lineancy saying he is suffering from HIV/AIDS and his wife is "very unwell" and has been admitted to a hospital.

The prosecution alleged that in 1995, Poornanand and Co, a solicitor firm, had to execute two documents on behalf of its client and required special adhesive stamps worth Rs 16,58,990 lakh. The matter was urgent as the client had to go abroad. Someone suggested Telgi's name and the firm approached him.

Telgi's employee Rakesh Sharma went to the firm's office, collected the document and allegedly affixed fake stamps. He also gave the firm a receipt signed by Telgi, promising to deliver the original receipt of the general stamp office. The company got suspicious when Telgi failed to deliver the original and verified from the general stamp office, which said there had been no sale.

The firm's advocate, Manish Marekh lodged a complaint with Superintendent of Stamps Radhesham Mopalwar who lodged an FIR. During investigation, three accused, including Telgi, were arrested and chargesheets filed against them by the CBI.

In all, 17 witnesses were examined during the trial, which concluded on December 26.

The three were charged under Sections 255 (counterfeiting of government stamps), 256 (possessing material for counterfeiting stamps), 258 (selling counterfeit stamps) 259 (possessing counterfeit stamps), 420 (cheating) 511 (punishment for counterfeiting) and 120-B (conspiracy).

They were also charged with sections 63 A and 63 B of the Bombay Stamp Act.