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).
