Multi-crore fake stamp paper scam kingpin Abdul Karim Telgi and four of his associates were on Monday sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by a special Central Bureau of Investigation court which found them guilty in another case.
"Police want to eliminate Telgi"
This is the second conviction of Telgi and his associates by the court in a month after it found them guilty and sentenced them to 10 years imprisonment in another case.
Telgi, Anees Khan, Badurddin, Ilyas and Salik Wazir were awarded ten years imprisonment under Indian Penal Code Sections 255, 256, 257, 258 and 260 (relating to counterfeiting of government Stamps). The five were sentenced to five years imprisonment under IPC sections 467, 468, 471, 72 to 75 (Forgery and Counterfeiting) 420 (Cheating) and 120B (Criminal Conspiracy), Special Court Judge V Virupaksha Angadi said.
Telgi case has demoralised police
The court also sentenced all the accused to one month's imprisonment under Section 63B of the Karnataka Stamp Act.
All the sentences will run concurrently. On Saturday last, Angadi had convicted Telgi and four others in four transactions involving fake stamp paper sale of about Rs 4.90 lakh to a private firm Deccan Structural System during 1999.
Special: The stamp of corruption
The police registered a case and investigated it after the firm cheated by the gang lodged a complaint. The court, however, acquitted them under IPC section 259 (having possession of counterfeit stamp papers during arrest).
Advocate Anees Ali Khan had argued for all the accused barring Telgi.