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48 cases were entrusted to CBI by the Supreme Court
in 2003 related to fake stamp scam. Till today CBI has
completed investigation in 34 cases against about 390
accused and 46 public servants/politicians. In six cases,
part investigations have been completed and further
investigation on some points are under progress. In
total, CBI has filed 52 chargesheets in 38 cases. In
all the major cases like P.S. Bandh Garden Case of Pune,
P.S. Upperpet and PS Madiwala case of Karnataka, chargesheets
have already been filed. CBI had also taken up 18 other
fake stamp cases which were not referred to CBI by the
Supreme Court. Considerable progress has also been made
in these cases and investigations have finally been
completed in eight cases and in six cases further investigations
are in progress after filing chargesheets against some
of the accused. In total, CBI has so far filed 72 chargesheets
and has completed investigation in 40 cases of fake
stamps.
Due to the initiative taken by the CBI, simultaneous
trial have been started across different States through
Video Conferencing by producing the accused in the courts
digitally. Currently, trial through Video Conferencing
is being conducted in the States of Delhi, Madhya Pradesh,
Karnataka and Maharashtra. Video Conferencing facilities
are also being installed in various jails and courts
in the States of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Tamil
Nadu.
CBI files chargesheet against Telgi and two senior police
officers in fake stamp case
CBI today filed a chargesheet in the court of Principal
Sessions Judge, CBI, Chennai against the king-pin of
the fake stamp paper racket, Abdul Karim Telgi, two
senior police officials one a DIG, CB CID Chennai and
the other an ACP Tamil Nadu Police, an Administrative
Officer of LIC and seven associates of Telgi in connection
with two cases registered by the CBI relating to sale
of counterfeit Govt. stamps by Telgi and his associates
in Chennai and other cities of Tamil Nadu. The chargesheet
has been filed u/s 120-B r/w sections 420,467,468,471,474,475,201,218,255
and 259 of IPC and 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of P.C. Act,1988.
These two cases were transferred to CBI on the orders
of the Supreme Court along with 46 other cases spread
over eleven States. During the investigation conducted
by CBI, it was revealed that Abdul Kareem Telgi extended
his illegal business to the State of Tamil Nadu through
an accused in 1998, who obtained stamp vender licences
from Chennai and under the cover of such licence Abdul
Karim Telgi successfully sold counterfeit Government
stamps worth crores of rupees in Chennai and other parts
of Tamil Nadu. Several front companies were opened for
the said illegal business in Tamil Nadu. Accounts were
also opened in the name of these front companies in
different banks to which sale proceeds of counterfeit
stamps received through cheques were deposited and cash
was withdrawn for handing over to Abdul Kareem Telgi.
CBI investigation revealed that fake insurance stamps
worth crores of rupees were sold by these accused to
various offices of LIC in Tamil Nadu between 1998 and
2002.
During the investigation the role of certain police
officers and LIC officers came under the scanner. It
was revealed that the then DIG, CB, CID, Chennai and
the then IO of CB CID, had connived with the prime accused
Abdul Kareem Telgi and his associates in Chennai. In
pursuance to that they had facilitated the illegal sale
of counterfeit government stamps in the state even after
getting specific information about the same. CB CID,
Chennai registered a case Crime No. 2/2002 but did not
arrest an accused from whom the counterfeit stamp papers
were recovered. As a result, one of the Associates of
Telgi could withdraw over Rs. 1.72 crore within three
months from one of the the accounts. Besides, they also
sold fake stamp papers worth more than Rs. 2 Crore to
LIC during the said period.
As the CB CID Chennai failed to effect any recovery
of counterfeit Stamps from one of the accused, he could
manage to come out on bail and continue Telgi's illegal
operations. The CB CID officials subsequently registered
another case vide Crime No. 7/2002 against the same
accused on 01-05-2002. Investigation in this case was
also not pursued on the proper lines. The fact that
the CB CID could recover counterfeit stamps worth only
about Rs. 5,000/- whereas STAMPIT, Karnataka was able
to seize counterfeit Government stamps worth about Rs.
170 Crore subsequently in October, 2002 from the same
accused person in Chennai, shows that the CB CID officials
were guided by reasons other than finding out the truth.
During the investigation, CBI examined more than 300
hundred witnesses and collected more than 400 documents.
The CBI arrested the then DIG, ACB and A.O. of LIC.
During investigation, the role of senior officials of
CB CID was also examined.
After completion of the investigation, CBI has forwarded
its report to Govt Tamil Nadu recommending Regular Departmental
Action (RDA) for Major Penalty against the then ADGP,
CB, CID, Chennai, the then IGP, CB, CID, Chennai, the
then IGP, Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment
Board (USRB).
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