Rediff

Jun 28: Abdul Karim Telgi, the mastermind of the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam, was on Thursday sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 13 years and fined a whopping Rs 100 crore on various counts in one of the main cases of the scandal.

Hours after Telgi pleaded guilty and repented his actions, Judge Chitra Bhedi of a special court pronounced the quantum of punishment under various sections of the IPC and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act.

This is the harshest punishment given to Telgi in any of the fake stamp paper cases he has been convicted for so far in Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Judge Bhedi observed that she had taken a "lenient view" since Telgi, who is in judicial custody in Pune, had pleaded guilty and also because of his health. Telgi is HIV positive.

Bhedi sentenced 42 other accused in the case, who too had pleaded guilty, to rigorous impriosnment for up to six years and imposed fines on them.

CBI counsel Raja Thakre moved an application in the court seeking the confiscation of Telgi's property to recover the fine slapped on him.

Telgi, who broke down earlier in the day while pleading guilty, thanked the judge for "giving him justice."