Date:07/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/07/stories/2006030721150300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

CBI sticks to its stand on not including 20 accused

Staff Reporter

Submits additional final report in stamp paper racket case

The Special Court directed the CBI in 2005 to include the names of 20 accused in the charge sheet

The CBI reiterated that there is no sufficient evidence against them

BANGALORE: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday filed an additional final report in the "Madivala case" and stuck to its stand on not including 20 accused in the charge sheet. The CBI filed this report following a direction by the Special Court trying the multi-crore stamp paper racket case.

It was on December 22, 2005 that the Special Court presided over by A.T. Munnoli directed the CBI, which is now investigating the case, to include the names of 20 accused. The CBI had "dropped" the names of these accused from this case. Special Court Judge Munnoli, in his 158-page order, had cited reasons for including the 20 persons, and directed the CBI to file an additional report.

The additional report was submitted to the court by Deputy Superintendent of Police of CBI A.P. Singh.

In the report, the CBI truck to its stand to prosecute only 16 persons and setting free the remaining 20 persons. The CBI reiterated that there was no sufficient evidence against 20 persons in the Madivala case. It said that there were evidence against the 20 accused in the Bund Garden police station in Mumbai, Hauj police station in New Delhi, Industrial Town police station in Chandigarh, and a police station in Chennai.

The case registered in the Madivala police station relates to Abdul Kareem Telgi, the prime accused in the racket, continuing with the illegal stamp paper business while he was lodged in the Bangalore Central Prison. The Karnataka Stamp Paper Investigation Team, which first investigated the case, charged 36 persons. The CBI, in its final report, booked charges against 16 persons.