4 yrs RI for Telgi, 5 others

Fake stamp paper scam kingpin Abdul Karim Telgi and five others were on Friday sentenced to four-years rigorous imprisonment by a special CBI court here after they pleaded guilty in the case.

Judge V Raghunath Rao pronounced the terms for Telgi, P Abdul Waheed, Thomas Jacob, Badruddin K Jamadar, B Sadasiva and K Mohd Yousuf after they pleaded guilty on charges under section of 120-B of Indian Penal Code (IPC) pertaining to criminal conspiracy and under sections 258 (Sale and circulation of fake stamps), 260 (possession of fake stamps) and 420 (cheating) of IPC , with fine of Rs 500 each.

The judge, however, dropped charges under IPC section 255 dealing with counterfeiting (printing) of government stamp papers against Telgi on the grounds of lack of material evidence.

The court also found them guilty under section 69 (B) of Indian Stamp Act and imposed sentences of six months simple imprisonment. All the sentences will run concurrently.

The judge in his orders also directed that the remand period if any undergone by all the accused is set off under section 428 CrPC.

Telgi, currently lodged in a Bangalore jail, was brought by an escort police party of Karnataka and produced in the court on January 20, which posted the case for framing of charges today.

The CBI had filed a charge sheet in the court against Telgi and five others after the case was transferred to the agency by Hyderabad Police in 2004.