Date:25/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/25/stories/2007012502190500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

High Court rejects Rehan Baig's bail plea

Staff Reporter

He is an accused in the stamp paper case

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court has rejected an application for bail by Rehan Baig, brother of former Minister and Congress MLA from Jayamahal, Roshan Baig, after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said that he had helped Abdul Karim Telgi in the sale of fake stamp papers and fake embossing of documents in the State.

Rehan Baig, a doctor, was one of the accused in the City Market Police station case in which he and several others were charge-sheeted by the Stamp Investigation Team (STAMPIT-which was then investigating the case) for allegedly having helped Telgi in running his multi-crore stamp paper racket.

C.V. Nagesh, who appeared for Rehan Baig, submitted that the Supreme Court had granted bail to former Assistant Commissioner of Police Sangram Singh and Vazeer Ahmed Khan. He said the allegation against them was that Sangram Singh had accepted the bribe to let go of Telgi when the Bangalore police arrested him and Khan had worked as a conduit between Rehan Baig and Sangram Singh.

When both Sangram Singh and Khan could be granted bail, Rehan too should be granted bail on the grounds of equity, he said.

The CBI said a case was registered against Rehan Baig and five others in the City Market Police Station in connection with illegal possession of ink pads, bottle containing red fluid, rubber seals of Deputy Director of Treasury and fake stamp papers.

It said Rehan Baig had misused his relation with his brother (Mr. Roshan Baig who was then Home Minister) and that if Rehan Baig had not intervened, Telgi would have been one of the accused in the case that was booked at that time. "However, due to the non-pursuance of the investigation and the connivance of Rehan Baig, the sale of fake stamp papers continued in Bangalore,'' the CBI said.

Justice Mohan Shantangouder accepted the contentions of the CBI and dismissed the bail plea.

Another plea for bail by Rehan Baig in the Upparpet Police Station case is scheduled to come up for hearing.