Wednesday, April 27 2005 18:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The trial in the 1995 fake stamp paper scam, involving prime accused Abdul Karim Telgi and two others, began in a special court in Mumbai today (Apr 27, 2005).

Though defence lawyer Jaideep Thakker opposed the initiation of trial, as they have filed an application before the Bombay High Court, Special Judge U D Salvi said that they (Telgi and other accused) had got sufficient adjournments and there was no need to further delay the trial.

Telgi and another accused Sanjay Gaikwad have challenged the framing of charges by the special court.

Telgi and his two associates, Ramratan Soni and Gaikwad, who acted as agents, were arrested by the M R A Marg police station in south Mumbai for their alleged complicity in circulating counterfeit stamps in the city in 1995.

CBI prosecutor P D Gharat examined the first witness in the case, Manish Parikh, an advocate with the Poornanand and Company Solicitors.

The solicitors firm had ordered special adhesive stamps worth around Rs six lakh from Telgi.

During the examination, Parekh told the court that he had asked Telgi to get the special adhesive stamps and had insisted for original stamp office receipt.

He said that Telgi had sent the special adhesive stamps to the solicitors firm through one of his employees. When Parikh asked for the original receipt, the employee said that he would speak to Telgi and send the original receipt by that evening.

However, as neither Telgi, nor his employer turned up with the receipt, the next day he went to General Stamp Office and met the officer in-charge, Parikh said adding, that the officer said that he would get the stamps verified.

Parikh told the court that when after a couple of days the stamp officer told him that the special adhesive stamps were fake, then they decided to contact Telgi.

When Telgi was told that the special adhesive stamps that he had supplied to Poornanand and Company were fake, Telgi passed the blame on his employee. Telgi, however, agreed to give in writing that the special adhesive stamps were fake and it was because of his employee's mistake, said Parikh.

Parikh produced a copy of the letter before the court stating that he had received summons late last evening and hence was not able to get all the original documents.

The court has asked him to get the original letter on the next date of hearing, May 6.

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, Mumbai 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.