Telgi repeats offer to turn approver, seeks pardon

Telgi's lawyers Harshad Nimbalkar and Milind Pawar submitted an application in MCOCA court in Puna on Thursday along with his letter seeking to turn approver in the case.

Abdul Karim Telgi, the prime accused in the multibillion rupee stamp paper scam, has repeated his offer to disclose all information he has provided and has pleaded again to be pardoned.

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Telgi's lawyers Harshad Nimbalkar and Milind Pawar submitted an application in the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court in Puna on Thursday along with his letter seeking to turn approver in the case.

The special court magistrate Chitra Bhedi has posted the matter for hearing on April 4 and asked the special prosecutor to submit his say on the application.

Known to have enjoyed proximity with several politicians in the state, Telgi has created a sensation several times in the last two years by dropping names of a few political bigwigs and then retracting his statements.

Reacting to Telgi's application, leading lawyer Ujjwal Nikam said it would be dangerous to grant pardon to Telgi in exchange for the promised disclosures as he is likely to settle scores against other accused and suspects in the case.

The racket apparent spread across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. A lot of the money was allegedly used to bribe police officials and politicians and obtain favours from political parties.

Karnataka Police arrested Telgi at Ajmer in Rajasthan in 2000 in a surprise raid at one of his hideouts.