Telgi's plea to become approver rejected

The MCOCA court turn down his application since the CBI described him as kingpin of the multi-crore rupee fake stamp case.

The special MCOCA court on Wednesday rejected the application of Abdul Karim Telgi, prime accused in the multi-crore rupee fake stamp case, to turn approver since the prosecution has described him as kingpin of the scam.

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Special Judge Chitra Bhedi said it was the choice of the prosecution whether or not to allow Telgi to become approver.
Telgi moved the application on March 1.

Since the CBI described him (Telgi) as the kingpin of the multi-crore rupee fake stamp case, Telgi's application to be allowed to become an approver is rejected, the judge said.

During earlier hearings, Telgi's lawyer Harshad Nimbalkar had said it was not correct for the CBI to oppose the application and the court was vested with the supreme power to make the decision.

There was a difference between making a confession and turning an approver, whose statements carried more weight because they were verified by the court itself, Nimbalkar had submitted.

Special Public Prosecutor Raja Thakre informed the court that Telgi has been convicted in two separate fake stamp cases by courts in Bangalore and Mumbai and he has also made a confession in a similar case registered against him in Mumbai. Hence, it was difficult to make Telgi, who is alleged kingpin in the case, an approver.

Telgi's lawyer Milind Pawar has, meanwhile, filed an application praying his client be produced in person before the judge as he wanted to show some documents. The judge has asked for the prosecution's say on it by April 12.