Fake stamp paper case: Telgi wants to turn approver

Prime accused in the multi-crore fake stamp paper case Abdul Karim Telgi on Thursday filed an application before the Special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act Court urging it to allow him to become an approver and also be pardoned as an accomplice.

Telgi, who gave a confessional statement in one case and was keen to do the same in the remaining ones, in his application filed by his lawyers -- Harshad Nimbalkar and Milind Pawar -- submitted that since the charges are yet to be finalised and framed against the accused, this was the proper time to prefer this prayer.

The accused has maintained since the beginning that he is neither the kingpin nor the main conspirator. During the arguments regarding consideration of charge, "some of the co-accused have also reiterated this," the lawyers said.

They said there are various facts pertaining to the offence in question, which are within his knowledge and the said facts do not form part of the chargesheet/challan of the case.

The accused therefore feels that it is necessary that the said facts should come before the court in the interest of justice so as to enable it to come to a proper conclusion.

Telgi feels this is a case of public importance involving loss to the government to the tune of crores of rupees and hence, the entire truth should come before the court as the chargesheet does not contain it and some of the accused are still at large.