Maharashtra: Abdul Karim Telgi finally pleads guilty

Pune, Jun 28: Prime accused Abdul Karim Telgi today pleaded guilty to all the charges against him in connection with the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam, at the Special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) Court here.

This case, for which Telgi has pleaded guilty now, was registered against him in June 7, 2002 at the Bund Garden police station, after an Indica car was intercepted by the police near the Pune railway station. A search of the car led to the discovery of several fake stamp papers. Subsequently, after further investigations, a series of raids were conducted across Maharashtra and other states and a multi-crore scam was unearthed. R S Sharma, who was discharged by Special Judge Chitra Bhedi yesterday, was then the Pune police commissioner.

Telgi and his accomplices have numerous cases filed against them all over the country for sale and manufacture of fake government stamps and paper. He was convicted in a case in Mumbai last year.

Seventeen other cases are pending against him in Maharashtra alone.

There are several other cases in courts at Chennai and Karnataka, wherein trial is slated to begin next month.

Telgi's wife Shahida, a co-accused in most of the cases, is currently hospitalised in Bangalore. Telgi himself allegedly suffers from AIDS and has offered to make a complete confession, several times in the past.

This case has witnessed many dramatic twists and turns. Telgi, who until day-before-yesterday stoutly denied all accusations against him in the special MCOCA court, yesterday informed the court that he was ready to plead guilty.

Telgi's lawyer Milind Pawar said his client, inspired by 43 of the 65 accused who pleaded guilty to the charges before Special Judge Chitra Bhedi, wanted to plead guilty. An oral submission to this effect was made before the court yesterday.

When Judge Bhedi wanted to know why he was delaying the matter, Telgi said he wished to consult his wife, Shahida. The Judge had then granted him time till 1100 hrs today for accepting and pleading guilty to all the charges framed against him.

The Judge had also chided Telgi for his several flip-flops, saying that her experience was that he never kept his word.

A subdued Telgi had then assured the court that he would plead guilty tomorrow after his wife Shahida arrived from Bangalore.

The Judge had also warned him that if he failed to keep his word, he would be fined for the same.

UNI

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