Wednesday, November 16 2005 16:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Pune: A special court today (Nov 16, 2005) rejected the bail application of Shahida Telgi, wife of Abdul Karim Telgi, the prime accused in the multi-core fake stamp paper case.

Shahida, who was charge sheeted along with 66 others in the fake stamp case by the CBI in July, had surrendered before the special Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) court here yesterday (Nov 15, 2005) after having failed to appear before it on two earlier occasions consequent upon the issuance of process against her.

Special Judge B N Sardeshpande rejected the bail application, filed by Shahida yesterday, on the ground that prima facie her involvement was there in the multi-crore fake stamp paper case.

Afflicted with several ailments besides being an HIV patient, the 41-year-old Shahida, who came in a wheel chair, had been sent to Sassoon Hospital, while being in judicial custody, by the Special Judge for treatment after she vomited twice in the court premises until her bail application was decided.

In his order rejecting the bail application of Shahida, Special Judge Sardespande directed the jail authorities to take utmost care of the accused and in case if there is no treatment available in the jail for her ailments, she be referred to another hospital as per the rules of jail manual under proper and sufficient escort.

Harshad Nimbalkar, her counsel, during the hearing had urged the court to take a humanitarian view as she was a HIV patient who was infirm, sick and a woman, who was virtually on a death bed.

Opposing the bail application, special Public Prosecutor Raja Thakre said Shahida's was not a unique case and that her husband who too was a HIV positive was lodged in the jail for the last two years where he was being given the best of treatment.

Thakre also submitted that she was aware of the illegal business of Telgi and ran the racket in his absence after his arrest.

Meanwhile, Milind Pawar, her lawyer, told sources that "We are going to appeal in the High Court against the rejection of the bail application of Shahida."