Sunday, April 24 2005 10:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court would hear on April 26 the application filed by prime accused in the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam, Abdul Karim Telgi challenging the special court's order which refused to discharge him in a 1995 case.

Justice V M Kanade would hear the application, according to Telgi's lawyers Jaideep Thakker and S Marwadi.

Meanwhile, Special Judge U D Salvi has adjourned the trial in the case to April 27. Thakker said that they have challenged the application of section 255 of Indian Penal Code (IPC), which states that the stamps were counterfeit.

He said, "Telgi was not involved in counterfeiting the stamps. Besides, this is the only section triable by special court and the remaining offences are triable by lower court."

Telgi and his two associates, Ramratan Soni and Sanjay Gaikwad, were arrested by the police for their alleged complicity in circulating counterfeit stamps in the market in 1995.

M R M Marg police station in south Mumbai had seized fake stamps and stamp papers from Telgi's associates and registered a case against the trio in 1995 and arrested them.

Initially, police probed the matter, which was later transferred to DCB, CID and finally CBI took over the case.

Telgi is involved in 48 cases of circulating counterfeit stamps and stamp papers in different States.