Wednesday, November 9 2005 19:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A Delhi court today (Nov 9, 2005) rejected the bail plea of a key aide of Abdul Karim Telgi, kingpin in the multi-crore fake stamp-paper scam and presently lodged in Yerrawada prison Pune, in connection with a case here.

Dismissing the bail application of Anand G Thorat, manager of M/s Prime services, which allegedly used to supply fake stamp papers in capital, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) J M Malik said, "Such crimes are more serious than a murder case."

"Unfortunately, India is caught in the tightening coils of those persons who want to gobble up astronomical amount and these lusty people have no qualms in selling out their own country," observed ASJ while denying the bail to Thorat, who is presently lodged in Tihar jail.

As per the CBI, accused Thorat, who hails from Belgaon in Karnataka, the place from which the key accused Telgi also belongs, was working as the manager, in one of the firm of the kingpin, Prime services and was looking after the sales of fake stamps and collection of money thereof.

The south District Investigation Unit of Delhi police headed by Inspector Pooran Singh, who himself is facing trial in an another fake stamp paper case, on December 3, 2000, had arrested Thorat and Abdul Gafoor Mujahid, who is now dead.

The police had recovered the cash of Rs 70 lakh from their possession, which, as per the CBI, was the sale proceeds of the fake stamp papers sold by the Nehru Place branch of the firm allegedly owned by Telgi and Mujahid.

Later, on September 29, last year the case was transferred to the CBI.