The high court on Thursday sought to know from the Karnataka government whether Abdul Karim Telgi, the kingpin in the multi-crore stamp paper scam which caused the state exchequer Rs30,000 crore losses, should be shifted to Pune from the Parappana Agrahara Jail in Bangalore. Telgi is set to appear before the sessions court, Greater Mumbai, which has issued a warrant to Telgi in three cases.
The Pune jail superintendent passed an order on January 18, seeking the shifting of Telgi there, as he had to be produced before a Mumbai court on February 19.
Telgi has challenged this move to shift him in the Karnataka high court. He has contended that he would attend all hearings of the Mumbai court through video conference from within Parappana Agrahara. Telgi has also said, without elaborating, that he has cause to fear for his life as former chief minister of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmukh, poses a threat.
Telgi has explained that he has personal reasons for remaining in Bangalore. He has suffered failure of the kidneys. His wife suffers from diabetes and a thyroid condition, besides being HIV-positive. His prison term is for ten years, he would not like to be shifted.
Justice BS Patil directed the government to seek instructions and inform the court of the manner in which it intends to proceed in this matter.
