|
The Special Court for Fake Stamp Cases, Bangalore has today
convicted three accused persons in the fake stamp cases of
Bangalore, Karnatka, namely S/Shri S.Krishnamurthy, P.Marimuthu
and G.Raja, under-section 120-B IPC, 255 and 259 IPC. Out
of the 48 cases of fake stamps taken up for investigation
by the CBI under the orders of Supreme Court, the investigation
of this case was transferred from PS Ulsoor Gate, Bangalore,
Karenataka. This case has the distinction of being the first
case which has ended in conviction within a short period.
The brief facts of the case are that on 23.7.2001, 200 fake
stamp papers of Rs.5,000/- denomination worth Rs.10 lakh were
recovered from the possession of S.Krishnamurthy at Bangalore.
On the basis of his disclosure statement, 175 fake stamp papers
amounting to Rs.8.75 lakh were recovered from the possession
of P.Marimuthu at Coimbtore. Further on the dislosure statements
of both S.Krishnamurthy and P.Marimuthu, 730 fake stamp paper
of Rs.5,000/- denomination worth Rs.36.50 lakh along with
printing material were also recovered from G.Raja at Chennai.
The total value of 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 subsequently
both the absconding accused i.e. S.Krishnamurthy and G. Raja
were apprehended by making sincere efforts.
After conclusion of the investigation, CBI filed a report
before the competent Court, Bangalore on 19.7.2004. Section
120-B IPC was not earlier included by the local police in
the chargesheet, but the CBI in its report recommended the
inclusion of this Section also against accused persons as
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 trial court in its judgement dated
6.4.2005, has convicted all the three accused persons u/s
120-B IPC, 255 and 259 IPC. The arguments on sentence were
also heard by the Court and the case is now fixed on 8.4.2005
for pronouncing the sentence.
|
