Mumbai, Nov 17: Investigations into the multi-crore counterfeit stamps and stamp papers case allegedly involving accused Abdul Karim Telgi had been ''tardy'' and knowingly left several loopholes to make the case ''weak'', according to an inquiry by DIG Subodh Jaiswal. Jaiswal had earlier headed the special investigation team (SIT) set up by the Maharashtra government on November 02, 2002, and had submitted its report on March 28, 2003, to the Maharashtra government.
The DIG had submitted the 104-page report after conducting a probe into allegations made by the then Pune additional police commissioner S M Mushrif that some of his colleagues had attempted to sabotage the initial investigation into the fake stamps racket and made efforts to get the wife and daughter of Telgi off the hook.
A full-length copy of the report available with the media reveals that the actual investigation process of the case was affected by a breakdown in communication between the then commissioner of police, Pune, R S Sharma and the additional commissioner (crime), Pune, S M Mushrif(now suspended).
Sharma, who later took over as the Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, had to recently undergo a gruelling questioning session for two days by the SIT, which is now being supervised by special DGP S S Puri, following a Bombay High Court directive to probe allegations against him by Mushrif and social activist Anna Hazare, who had filed a pubic interest litigation(PIL).
Bureau Report