Monday, February 6 2006 13:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Pune: The key accused in multi-crore fake stamp paper scam, Abdul Karim Telgi was today (Feb 06 2006) produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate D W Modak here upon completion of 48 hours given to him by the court for reflection before making his confession in a 1995 stamp case registered in Mumbai.

Additional Sessions Judge U D Salvi of a special court in Mumbai had on January 31 directed the city's Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) to record Telgi's confessional statement in a 1995 fake stamp case pending before the former's court after the prime accused had expressed his desire to confess.

When Telgi was produced before the CJM on Saturday last, he was informed by Modak that he was being given 48 hours time for reflection. "You will be kept in magisterial custody during the period and then produced before the court on Monday," the judge had said adding that the accused was still free to refuse to make the confession.

"You are fully independent and can still refuse to make the confession even now", Modak had said and put him a series of questions to ascertain whether he was under any pressure.

However, Telgi looked determined and told the court that he was under no threat or compulsion to make the confessional statement. "I am not given any allurement, promise of lesser punishment or that I would be made a prosecution witness if I made a confessional statement", he had said.

He said the reason to make the confession was that he wished to expose everyone like the powerful politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen and members of the general public, who are guilty.