Telgi case: Trial through video conference

Maharashtra Govt has agreed to install video conferencing system linking the trial court and the Yerwada Central Prison in Pune.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing into the Rs 30,000 crore Telgi fake stamp paper scam, has written to the Maharashtra Government for shifting all the accused and the trial court from Mumbai to Pune for security reasons.

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The agency has also requested the state government to install video conferencing system, linking the trial Court and the Yerwada Central Prison in Pune, to avoid transporting the accused to the court exposing them to security risks.

The state, in an affidavit before the Supreme Court, has said it has agreed to CBI's proposal and instructed the Inspector General of Prisons to work out the details.

"This proposal is under process, including making available the necessary amount and it is at the final stage," it said. The affidavit was filed in response to the apex court's query in a petition filed by advocate Ajay Kumar Agrawal, which had sought transfer of the cases to CBI for investigation.

On the basis of this petition, the apex court had transferred 48 key cases for investigation to the CBI, which, in seven months, has filed 22 chargesheets in various cases in the fake stamp paper scam.

On the installation of video conferencing system linking the Yerwada prison and the MCOCA Court to be shifted to Pune, the state government said the issue had been taken up with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

"The response from BSNL is awaited and further action of installing video conferencing system will be taken as expeditiously as possible," it said.