SC grants bail to former Minister, ACP in Telgi case

New Delhi, Dec 8 (UNI) The Supreme Court today granted bail to a former Andhra Pradesh minister and an assistant commissioner of police arrested for their alleged involvement in Rs 2250 crores fake stamp papers scandal in which Abdul Karim Telgi is the main accused.

Petitioner Chenna Boyanna Krishna Yadav, a former Andhra Pardesh minister in TDP government, was ordered to be released on bail by a bench comprising Justices K G Balakrishnan and D K Jain on his furnishing bail bond for Rs 5 lakhs along with two sureties of the like amount.

Other accused in the case Gokul Bhagaji Patil , a former Assistant Commissioner of Mumbai police was directed to be released on bail on his furnishing bail bond for Rs 2 lakhs along with two sureties of the same amount to the satisfaction of special judge, Pune.

The appellant ex minister reportedly came in contact with Abdul Karim Telgi in 1998 when Yadav got two employees of Telgi kidnapped and demanded Rs 2 crores as ransom and two became very close to each other and Yadav actively supported Telgi in preparing fake and counterfeit stamp papers. Yadav was arrested by the CBI on September 6, 2003 for offences under MCOCA coupled with criminal conspiracy and cheating while Patil was arrested on October 18,2003 for the same offences.

The apex court also directed the two appellants to surrender their passports to the authorities making it clear that the top court was not expressing any opinion on the merits of the case.

Both the accused shall remain bound by all the conditions under section 438 (2) CrPC.

Telgi is facing 48 cases in relation to the fake stamp papers scandal.

UNI AKS/SC RP RS1903