In a major setback to Pradeep Sawant, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), anti-terrorism squad (ATS), and senior police inspector Vashisht Andhale, the Bombay high court on Wednesday set aside the order of a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court discharging the two in the multi-crore Telgi fake stamp paper scam.
Sawant and Andhale were suspended after they, along with former city police commissioner RS Sharma, were accused of supporting and encouraging the fake stamp paper syndicate and its kingpin Abdul Karim Telgi.
Justice Ranjana Desai, while hearing the appeals filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), pulled up the police force, including high ranking officers serving the police in 2003-04 when the scam had come to light. “This case has national ramifications. Several accused including the main accused have pleaded guilty and they have been convicted. There is a possibility that this scam had the blessings and assistance of some high ranking police officers. Their involvement needs to be gone into and probed. In the ultimate analysis, I am of the opinion that the material collected by the prosecution, prima facie, indicates that Sawant and Andhale have knowingly facilitated the commission of an organised crime by their acts of commission and omission. It gives rise to a strong and grave suspicion leading the court to believe that they have committed the offence,” observed Justice Desai.
Justice Desai set aside the discharge order, but granted the duo two months time to approach the Supreme Court. She also pulled up the special judge for discharging the officers without considering vital pieces of evidence. “The special judge has misdirected herself in discharging the officers. She has failed to take into account several vital pieces of evidence collected by the prosecution, which prima facie indicate their involvement,” said Justice Desai.
