SC grants bail to 2 police officials in fake stamp paper case

New Delhi, Feb 9 (UNI) The Supreme Court today granted bail to two senior police officers who are in charge of the investigation in multicrore fake stamp papers scandal in which Abdul Karim Telgi is the main accused.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan and Justice D K Jain ordered the release on bail of Dattatray Krishanji Ghule and Hitendra Manohar Vichare on their furnishing personal bond for Rs 50,000 each along with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Special Court Pune.

The appellants were arrested by CBI for offences under MCOCA read with sections 192, 217, 218 and 263 (a) of IPC on October 8, 2004.

The court , while granting bail directed, ''They shall also remain bound by all the conditions as stipulated in section 438(2) CrPC. They shall also surrender their passport, if any, before the Special Court Pune.'' It further added, ''Needless to add that the afore-notice observations on the merit of the allegations against the appellant are tentative, purely for the purpose of these appeals and shall not be construed as expression of a final opinion on any of the issue of fact or law, which may arise for consideration during the course of trial.'' The two were arrested for facilitating the commission of offence by colluding with the accused.

UNI