Telgi case: SC grants bail to former SSP

New Delhi, Sep 21 (UNI) The Supreme Court today granted bail to a former senior Superintendent of Central prison, Bangalore, arrested for facilitating the illegal activities of Abdul Karim Telgi, the alleged kingpin of about Rs 2000 crore fake stamp paper scandal, during his stay in Bangalore jail in 2001.

Petitioner Jaya Simha was posted as senior Superintendent and was arrested on December 9, 2003 by CBI for allowing Telgi to use mobile phone and facilitate his unlawful activities. He was also charged with permitting him to continue his fake stamp business from the jail and also allowing Telgi to throw a party in jail.

Jaya Simha was arrested for offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act as well as Karnataka Control of organised Crimes Act 2000 (KCOC).

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices Tarun Chaterjee and R V Raveendran directed the release on bail subject to furnishing a bail bond for Rs 50,000 with two solvent sureties for the like sum.

The court also directed the petitioner to comply with the condition enumerated in Section 438(2)CrPC and also to surrender his passport before the special court.

The court in its order said " the appellant has already been in jail for about 3 years and 9 months. It is stated that 256 witnesses have been cited. The trial has not been completed and it is likely to take a long time for completion. We have already directed Nanjappa, who was Assistant Superintendent against whom similar accusitions are made, to be released on bail." UNI AKS/SC RAR RN1754