Mumbai: The much awaited trial in the multi-crore fake stamps and stamp papers scam case is likely to commence in a special court at Pune in March this year (2004), even as the Special Investigating Team (SIT), probing the scam, has taken formal steps to seek the custody of prime accused Abdul Karim Telgi, lodged in Karnataka jail in a similar case.

SIT has written a letter to Karnataka authorities seeking the custody of Telgi to enable him face the trial, public prosecutor Raja Thakre informed designated Judge S M Shembole in Pune yesterday (Jan 02, 2004).

The SIT is all set to file by this month end the third charge sheet in this case involving former Mumbai police commissioner R S Sharma, former joint police commissioner Sridhar Vagal, former assistant commissioner of police M C Mulani and Telgi's marketing manager Vijay Desai, who were arrested recently, Thakre said.

The case against Telgi and others was registered on June seven, 2002 by Bund Garden police station in Pune. Maharashtra Government then formed the SIT to probe the multi-crore scam.

Telgi was earlier brought to Mumbai from Karnataka during November 2002 and January 2003. He spent 85 days in custody of Mumbai police. Later, he was sent back to Karnataka and lodged in a jail there as he is facing a similar scam case in that State.

Altogether 64 accused have been arrested in this case and two charge sheets have already been filed on March 27 and December 29 last year.