Tuesday, February 15 2005 16:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The CBI, probing the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam, has filed a petition in Bombay High Court seeking permission to give copies of transcript of recorded telephonic talks between the prime accused Abdul Karim Telgi and 60 others held in custody.

The petition would come up for hearing before a bench headed by Chief Justice Dalveer Bhandari on February 17.

CBI contended that a PIL had been filed in High Court in 2003 by social activist Anna Hazare urging for transfer of probe from SIT (Special Investigation Team) to CBI.

During the hearing, SIT, Karnataka, had informed that it had recorded telephonic talks between Telgi and other accused. In keeping with court directives, the transcript was handed over to SIT, Mumbai, and later to CBI, which took over the probe.

CBI contended that the trial is now going on in a MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) court in Pune.

One of the accused, M C Mulani, has urged for a copy of the transcript and the matter is pending before the trial court.

CBI pleaded that 61 accused, including Telgi, are in custody and urged that it would be fair on its part to supply each one of them with a copy of the transcript so that they could prepare for their defence.

CBI, while praying for supplying copies of transcript to 61 accused, has made 12 respondents to its petition. They include social activist Anna Hazare, the then Home Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, former Police Commissioners O P Bali and R S Sharma, Union Government and State of Karnataka.

The High Court would hear all the respondents before passing an order on CBI's plea.