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A trial court in Bangalore has convicted S/Shri P.Marimuthu,
S.Krishnamurthy and G.Raja in a fake stamp paper case and
sentenced them to undergo seven years rigorous imprisonment
and fine of Rs.50,000/-, u/s 120-B r/w 255 IPC. The trio have
also been sentenced to two years additional R.I. u/s 120-B
r/w 259 IPC. Both the sentences have been ordered to run concurrently
and the court has finally ordered that the material object
should be destroyed.
This fake stamp case was taken over by the CBI on the orders
of the Supreme Court, dated 15.3.2004 along with 47 other
cases of fake stamps/stamp papers. This case was earlier being
investigated by the Ulsoor Gate Police Station, Bangalore
(Karnataka) and subsequently taken over by CBI and this case
is the first case among 48 cases which has ended in conviction.
The case was initially registered by Ulsoor Gate Police Station,
Bangalore following recovery of 200 fake stamp papers of Rs.5,000/-
denomination amounting to Rs.10 lakh from the possession of
S.Krishnamurthy at Bangalore on 23.7.2001. On the basis of
his disclosure statement, 175 stamp papers amounting to Rs.8.75
lakh were recovered from the possession of P.Marimuthu at
Coimbatore. On the basis of disclosure statements of both
S.Krishnamurthy and P.Marimuthi, 730 fake stamp papers of
Rs.5,000/- denomination worth Rs.36.50 lakh along with printing
material were recovered from G.Raja at Chennai. The total
value of the seized property is about Rs.56 lakh. During the
course of trial, accused S.Krishnamurthy and G. Raja absconded
by jumping bail.
During the course of further investigation by CBI, all the
witnesses were re-examined and both the absconding accused
i.e. S.Krishnamurthy and G. Raja were apprehended. After conclusion
of the investigation, CBI filed a report before the competent
court, Bangalore on 19.7.2004. As Section 120-B IPC was not
earlier included by the local police in the chargesheet, the
CBI in its report recommended the inclusion of this section
also against accused persons. The facts and circumstances
of the case clearly established that all the three accused
persons entered into a criminal conspiracy during the period
2001-2002, the object of which was to prepare, print and sell,
fake non-judicial stamp papers.
The trial of the case was transferred to Special Court for
Fake Stamp Cases, Bangalore and the charges were re-framed
against all the accused persons on 7.2.2005. All the relevant
witnesses were re-examined and trial of the case was concluded
in a short period. The sentence to the accused was pronounced
today.
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