Accused in Telgi scam writes to Chief Justice

Anil Gote has requested inquiry as to how the CBI had drafted charges and given it to MCOCA.

Anil Gote, MLA from Dhule, arrested for his alleged complicity in the multicrore fake stamp paper scam, masterminded by Abdul Karim Telgi has written a letter to the Chief Justice (CJ) of the Bombay High Court Harjit Singh Bedi requesting inquiry as to how the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had drafted charges and given it to the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court, Pune which is conducting the trial.

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The letter also requests inquiry against a lawyer Vidyadahar Koshe as to how he acquired copy of the draft charges when it was in custody of the court. According to the letter, Koshe later sold copies of draft charges to various other accused.

In a letter to the CJ, Gote has alleged that one "advocate Borkar, who is a junior to advocate Vidyadhar Koshe has sold copy of the draft charges to his son, Tejas Gote for Rs 1,000."

Earlier, former Mumbai Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Pradeep Sawant had made an application for obtaining draft charges before the special Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) court. The special court rejected the application in March, 2006 terming it as premature.

However, in November a copy was acquired exclusively by Koshe who is representing couple of accused in the case. He then sold the draft charges to some of the accused, including Gote’s son Tejas.

Gote has alleged that the CBI has prepared readymade charges against the accused and has handed it over to the court. Gote has sought inquiry into this action as it would allegedly violate accused' right of fair trial.

E-mail: urvi.jappi@hindustantimes.com