Telgi gets 13 years RI with Rs 102 crore fine

Pune, June 28 (UNI) Bringing the curtains down on the high profile inter-state multi-crore fake stamp paper scam, the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court today sentenced prime accused Abdul Karim Telgi to 13 years' rigorous imprisonment (RI) and slapped a fine, aggregating Rs 102 crore.

Delivering the quantum of sentence in a packed courtroom, MCOCA court Judge Chitra Bhedi said Telgi would have to serve another three years RI in default of the payment of fine.

The prosecution also moved an application, as per the provision of law, stating that his properties be confiscated and attached.

Before delivering the order, the Judge observed that Telgi deserved a much bigger sentence due to the serious nature of the crime. But considering his health and personal circumstances, she was diluting the order to the minimum as was permissible without any flaw in the law.

Telgi had been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and MCOCA Act. Prominently among them are 120(b) (conspiracy), 312, 255, 256, 257, 260, 258, 289, 403, 420, 467, 468 and more, where punishment ranges from 1 to 10 years and fine in the range of Rs one lakh to Rs 50 crore, besides serving an additional prison term in default of payment.

Meanwhile, all the 43 accused in the inter-state multi-crore fake stamp paper scam were awarded a minimum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakh or an additional term of six months in default of the payment.

Judge Bhedi observed that she had taken a lenient view as the 43 accused had come forward to accept their guilt.

''They had pleaded guilty yesterday,'' she said.

The court also dropped Section 3(2) of the MCOCA on former Samajwadi Janata Party MLA Anil Gote and Telgi's brother Abdul Azim Telgi. The two, along with 16 others, will face a trial as they had pleaded ''not guilty'' yesterday.

Yesterday, the court discharged four persons -- former Mumbai Police Commissioner Ranjit Singh Sharma, DCP Crime Branch Dharavi Unit-V Pradip Sawant, PI Vashisht Andhale and Madhav Mutta Devadiga -- before framing charges.

UNI