Pune, Nov 27: A local court today rejected the plea of Sridhar Vagal, suspended Joint Commissioner Of Police and accused in the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam, for class one facilities in jail and return of weapons seized from him. Judicial magistrate first class, M N Bhondre, however, reserved its ruling till December three on Vagal's plea for a copy of a Panchnama of seizure of documents from his car and his request to allow him to make a statement before a magistrate. Vagal was arrested on November seven in Mumbai by Pune police for his alleged complicity in the scam and suspected links with prime accused Abdul Karim Telgi. He has pleaded before a court here that he may be allowed to make a statement before a magistrate under Section 164 of CRPC as he wishes to divulge the truth in regard to the case but prayed it should not be treated as his confession.


Public prosecutors Raja Thakre, however, opposed Vagal's plea saying that an accused can only make a confession under Section 164 of CRPC and not a statement.

Vagal also pleaded that two weapons, an air gun and .22 bore pistol, seized from his house belonged to his wife, Audrey. She held valid licences to possess weapons and hence they may be returned to her. Other weapons seized were his licenced revolver, a shot gun and 256 bullets. Bureau Report