A special Central Bureau of Investigation court on Monday framed charges against stamp scam prime accused Abdul Karim Telgi and his associate Sanjay Gaekwad in a case registered in 1995.
The court framed various charges including sections 120 (B), 255, 256, 258, 259, 263 and 420 read with 511 of the Indian Penal Code, besides section 63 of the Bombay Stamp Act.
These sections pertain to conspiracy, counterfeiting government stamps, possessing fake stamps, selling counterfeit stamps and cheating.
Judge U D Salvi, however, granted them 15 days to move the Bombay high court for filing an appeal against the order.
Both, along with their associate Ramratan Soni, are facing charges of circulating fake stamp papers in the market.
Their involvement came to light in 1995 when police seized fake stamp papers and registered a case against them.
Telgi's lawyers contended that he was not involved in selling fake stamps. They argued that the reports of Indian Security Press in Nasik and Forensic Laboratory at Mumbai had indicated the seized stamp papers were genuine.
The lawyers argued that the police, state Crime Investigation Department, Special Investigation Team, and the CBI, that have been carrying out the investigation in the fake stamp paper cases, have not made any recovery from Telgi.
Special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat opposed Telgi's discharge plea stating that Telgi had violated the laws by promising a company, Poornanad, that he would sell them special adhesive stamps, which were available only at the General Stamp Office counters.
"Telgi, being a licensed stamp vendor, should have known the laws pertaining to the special adhesive stamps," the prosecutor argued.
Telgi, Soni and Gaekwad are accused of circulating counterfeit stamp and stamp papers in the market.