Telgi declines to confess, insists on making the statement in Bangalore

The much-awaited confession statement on the multi-billion-rupee stamp paper racket could not come through with the alleged mastermind of the scam Abdul Karim Telgi insisting that he be brought to Bangalore to record the statement.

Telgi told the special court in Bangalore through video conferencing from Yerawada jail in Pune, where he is lodged, that he would feel more secure if the statement was recorded in Bangalore.

When the special judge V Angadi wished to know why he could not make the confession statement from Pune, Telgi said he apprehends a threat to his life. “I am ready to confess before any court in Bangalore”, he said. During its previous hearing, Telgi had told the court that he wished to make a confession statement on all the cases booked against him in Bangalore and reveal the names of politicians involved in the scam.

After Telgi put a rider to make the confession statement, CBI counsel and public prosecutor P Govindan told the court that it would be risky to bring Telgi to Bangalore and that he could make the statement in Pune itself.

Immediately, Telgi sprang up and questioned why the CBI was worried about his confession statement. “I know everything about the case and I wish to reveal it. Does the CBI know as much as I do?”, he countered. He accused the CBI of preventing him from making a confession statement.

But, the CBI counsel pointed out that he was not bothered as long as Telgi makes the confession statement in Pune. “It is convenient to record Telgi’s statement in Pune, where he is presently lodged”, the counsel pointed out.

The special judge also observed that factors like Telgi’s safety, his security and financial costs involved in bringing him to Bangalore were important. Since, there was no valid ground on which Telgi could be brought to Bangalore, the judge said the confession statement should be made from Pune. He posted the next hearing of the case to May 26.