Karnataka - Bangalore

Special court functions from new premises

BANGALORE: The special court trying the multi-crore stamp paper racket cases began functioning from the new premises here on Monday. The court, which was located in front of the Bangalore Central Prison off Hosur Road, is now functioning from the City Civil Court complex.

Following a notification by the Karnataka High Court, the special court was shifted to the new premises on Saturday. A multi-point video conferencing facility was recently inaugurated on the sixth floor of the complex.

It was in February 2002 that the Government established the special court near the Bangalore Central Prison. The court was asked to hear the cases registered against prime accused Abdul Karim Telgi and his accomplices in the State. On the direction of the Supreme Court, the Government provided the court with the video conferencing facility to enable production of Telgi from the Yerwada Central Prison in Pune. The court now has an improved video conferencing unit by which the accused lodged in three prisons can be heard simultaneously.

The advocates appearing for the accused have welcomed the shifting of the court to the new location. “Now we will be available in the court for a longer time. There will not be instances where the court will be made to wait for the advocates,” said advocate S.B. Rajanna, who is appearing for Telgi.

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