Sunday, March 6 2005 12:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court would tomorrow (Mar 7, 2005) hear CBI's petition, seeking its permission to give copies of transcript of recorded telephonic talks between prime accused Abdul Karim Telgi and others, to 60 accused held in custody.

The petition will come up for hearing before Justice Ajit Shah and Justice S F Vajifdar.

On the last occasion, the matter was posted to March 7, as State of Maharashtra sought time.

CBI said, 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 transcript copy to prepare for their defence.

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

During the hearing, SIT, Karnataka, had informed that it had recorded telephonic talks between Telgi and others.

In keeping with court's 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 Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court in Pune. Accused, M C Mulani, has urged for a copy of the transcript and the trial court is yet to decide on it.

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.