Pune, Aug 22: Senior police inspector of Mumbai crime branch, Datta Dhal, arrested by special investigative team (SIT) in connection with the multi-crore fake stamp paper racket, was today remanded to police custody till September 1. Dhal, in-charge of Dharavi unit crime branch, was arrested here last night under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, a stringent law of the state.

Pressing for his police custody, the prosecutor Raja Thakre argued before Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) M N Bondre that there were enough evidence that showed his deep involvement in protecting the prime accused Abdul Karim Telgi. Thakre said with this motive the accused has even fabricated the records of crime branch. Besides, the accused, who was summoned earlier by the police for interrogation, did not come out with the truth.

With the arrest of Dhal, the total number of those arrested in the Rs 3,000 crore racket has gone upto 47. Dhal allegedly shielded Telgi by showing recovery of fake stamp paper of Rs 850 crore in someone else's name. The material was seized from a godown in Bhiwandi in January last year.

Telgi and others are facing charges of printing and distributing counterfeit stamp papers in Maharashtra and seven other states causing losses to the government to the tune of several crore of rupees.

Bureau Report