Telgi grills Nanded Collector

Mumbai, Mar 16 (UNI) The multi-crore counterfeit stamp paper scam's prime accused Abdul Karim Telgi today grilled erstwhile Suprintendent of General Stamp Office (GSO) and now Nanded Collector Radheshyam Mopalwar , alleging he was among those few vendors who had been issued the license on the recommendation of a politician by the GSO when it was headed by Mopalwar.

But the officer denied the charge and stone-walled Telgi's questions with ''I can not recollect ...it is a matter of record ''.

Telgi conducted the officer's cross-examination via Video conferencing from Yerwada Jail in Pune where he is lodged. Telgi cross-examined Mopalwar in connection with two cases registered against him by Mumbai police at Colaba and Cuffe Parade police stations in 1995-96, involving fake stamps worth Rs 22 lakh issued by him to a vendor.

Additional Sessions Judge U D Salvi presided over the case trial.

being Cross examined as a witness in the case, Mopalwar repeatedly said, ''I can not recollect. It is a matter of record '' to most querries raised by Telgi.

The accused informed the court that Mopalwar never issued any stamp vendor's license without a politician's recommendation.

Telgi had earlier already disclosed names of certain politicians, including a revenue minister, who had recommeded issuance of vendor's licences to some parties, including himself.

Telgi today reminded Mopalwar that when he had met him on June 21, 1995, he (Mopalwar) had advised him to write a letter to his superior office if he wanted the license. He further reminded the officer that he had sent his employee, Rakesh Sharma, to his office with letters seeking license on July 25-26, 1995. But the officer stone-walled all querries.

The cross examination will continue tomorrow.

UNI ST KD SA SHR RAI0040