IntroductionIntroduction

The Telgi stamp scam can be dubbed as the mother of all scams and many cannot resist saying it happens only in India. Its ramifications run deep and cover over 12 states with Maharashtra leading the way. It has left its stamp of shame on the top police brass, politicians and bureaucrats. Today a number of them, including the ex-police commissioner of police, Mumbai are languishing in jails along with the kingpin, and state’s strong man resigned as cries to boot him out reached a crescendo.

Abdul Karim Lad Saab Telgi’s story is that of the rags to the riches. He started by selling articles on the Belgaum platform and trains to make out a living and educate himself and by doing a petty job. He struck gold when he plunged into printing and selling fake stamps. His operations lasted for nearly a decade and during this period he was able to keep the law at bay by bribing the powers that pulled the strings.

He started be doing what has been even impossible to think of. He penetrated the confines of Indian Government’s Nashik Security Press where millions of crores worth court stamp papers and printed in connivance with the top officials. He bought scrap stamp printing presses in working conditions, installed them in his Mumbai Press and began printing and selling stamp papers.

What helped and boosted his sales was that by pulling his political strings he succeeded in getting a stamp vendors license. This enabled him to sell in bulk to top companies and banks. Soon his growing money power gained him so much clout at Mumbai Stamp Office that for long periods they feigned shortage of stamps, allowing Telgi’s men to sell stamps at a premium outside the stamp office.

Today, many are paying the police of their falling prey to Telgi’s bribes and Telgi to who has amassed a fortune is down with aids and in jail but this time without the luxuries of a cell phone or hotel stay. Today’s watch worth is “No Telgi Ghee only butter”

Though the racket had come to light in 1995 those whose duty was to expose and bring the guilty to booth engaged them in cover-up and apparently allowed him to run the racket from his cell by providing him the cell phone.

Finally, it was the patience and perseverance of one man, the indefatigable Anna Hazare who filled a public interest petition in the high court. This brought things into the open and exposed the role of police and politicians and under the court’s order the state government was forced to set up S.I.T who’s findings have sealed the fate by many top brass and even made the central government to sit up and take action.

Key PlayersKey Players

Abdul Karim Lad Saab Telgi In his early forties, is keeping the police force of at least 19 states on

tenterhooks. The main suspect in the fake stamp paper racket is a native of Belgaum district in Karnataka. He began as a vendor in a small railway station before coming to Mumbai. A meeting with a forger eventually led him to the stamp and stamp papers business where demand forever exceeded supply. He capitalized on this by printing duplicates. No one has determined the extent of his business or the loss to the exchequer, but it is believed to run into thousands of crores.

Arrested in 2001, Telgi is now behind bars in Karnataka.

Among those who reportedly helped Telgi were several politicians, policemen and bureaucrats.

Two MLAs - Anil Gote (Dhule, Maharashtra) and Krishna Yadav (Himayat Nagar, Andhra Pradesh) - have been arrested and charged under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act.

Apparently, Gote helped Telgi get a stamp vendor's license using a recommendation from former Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Yadav, it is believed demanded Rs 2 crore to protect his illegal business.

Though Telgi's business empire was controlled from Mumbai, the Maharashtra government never showed much enthusiasm to expose or end the racket.

Noted social reformer Anna Hazare filed a PIL in the Bombay high court to force the state government to act.

Today, the investigation is out of the hands of the state government and is monitored by the court. Some believe that to be reason for the arrest of some very high profile people.

On the court's orders, retired additional DGP Sukhwinder Singh Puri was appointed head of the Special Investigation Team probing the racket, as its

then chief, DIG Subodh Jaiswal, was junior to cops who were under scrutiny.

Known as 'Justice Puri’ in police circles, Puri enjoys the reputation of being an upright officer. It was after he entered the picture that the accused began emerging from the shadows. He has shunned the media

glare and steadfastly stuck to his work.

Former Mumbai police commissioner R S Sharma is the highest-ranking officer to be arrested so far. The SIT says he did not maintain absolute integrity in the investigation into the scam. Even at the time of his appointment, Sharma was plagued with allegations of bribing his way to the top post.

Now the telgi scam has intensified the conflict between the congress and the NCP parties, the two leading partners in the democratic front government, with chief ministers Shinde unable to decide the course of action against the Mumbai police commissioner Ranjeet Sharma for his alleged role in the Rs. 3000 crore fake stamp paper scam. Political observers, however, set the DF leaders are desperately hacking out a face- saving formula, which would seemingly show that the chief minister has taken decisive action against Sharma and at the same time, insures not to antagonize bhujbal, who belongs to the NCP. Already the opposition Shivsena- BJP combine has demanded Bhujbals resignation accusing him of shielding corrupt police officers involved in the multi crore stamp. Meanwhile there are indications that a new police chief in the next few days would replace Sharma. Sources say that Sharma may be side lined as an additional director general in the state Police. VN Deshmuk, commissioner of state intellegince department, is most likely to be the new police chief said a Mantralay offical, “some officers have begun lobbying with senior politicians in Maharashtra and New delhi to get elite posting in Mumbai.” However, Political sources said that the state government would ensure that a good officer is posted in Mumbai as the image of the city police has taken a severe drubbing in the past two days.

Retired ACP M C Mulani (small pic, left) reportedly demanded a bribe from Telgi. Despite knowing this, Sharma let him continue in the team investigating the scam.

IGP Sridhar Vagal is the second highest ranking officer to be arrested. Among other things, he reportedly allowed Telgi a free rein even when he was in police custody. At that time, Vagal was working under Sharma in Mumbai.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal finds himself in a soup because he had appointed Sharma as Mumbai police chief. Even at that time, it was known that Sharma's role in the racket was not entirely above board.

He has often found himself isolated where this racket is concerned with no support forthcoming from his party, Nationalist Congress Party, either.

There is no talk of any connection between him and Telgi as yet, but until Sharma is absolved, Bhujbal will continue to be viewed with suspicion.

Government ReactionsGovernment Reactions

Finance Minister Jaswant Singh said the value of the fake stamp papers recovered by various investigative agencies was Rs 3,376 crores.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on a calling attention motion on the stamp paper scam, the minister said the agencies had registered 74 cases in this connection, with 15 against chief accused Abdul Karim Telgi.

Singh said while several figures had been given out on the value of the scam, they were all speculative. He added since most of

the stamp duties were payable to state governments, the loss of revenue for the Center had been very little.

He said the government would recognize as genuine all transactions executed on stamp papers within the country. He said, “There will be no legal infirmity on any such documents and, if necessary, the government will introduce a Bill in the House.”

Singh said the new stamp papers with improved security features would be available across the country by July 2004. The minister said the government was committed to find a remedy to the problem and said a number of measures were under way “to eliminate the virus”.

The minister acknowledged that the full contours of the scam were not visible to him when Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna wrote to him last year.

But by March 2003, the finance ministry had written to all the chief ministers asking

them to name officials who could be involved in circulating fake stamp paper

Time Span

1991: First case registered in fake stamps case. But no action is taken

1993: Abdul Karim Telgi arrested for first time in passport case. Meets Ramratan Soni in jail who introduces him to fake stamp

papers

1995: Telgi breaks with Soni and enters fake stamps market. That year, seven cases are registered against him but he is not arrested

2001: Karnataka government arrests him. In jail Telgi calls up contacts on his cellphone, while the police secretly record

conversations

January 2003: On January 9, after police get custody of Telgi, DIG Subodh Jaiswal finds Telgi partying at his Cuffe Parade house with

policemen and not under arrest

March 2003: SIT of Pune police submits report on irregularities in the case to Maharashtra home ministry

Sept 4, 2003: Social activist Anna Hazare files PIL in High Court

Sept 6, 2003: C Krishna Yadav, TDP MLA is arrested

Nov 7, 2003: Jt CP Sridhar Vaghal arrested

Nov 13, 2003: RS Sharma goes on leave

Dec 06, 2003: I am ready for lie detector tests, says TelgiSharma remanded to judicial custody on SIT's plea

S.I.T. Commission chosen for the racketS.I.T. Commission chosen for the racket

In a major breakthrough in the multi-crore fake stamp papers scam, three police officials were on Saturday arrested in Maharashtra.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Gokul Bhagaji Patil of the state intelligence, Inspector Vashist Andale of the Sahar airport crime branch unit and Sub-inspector Prabhakar Kakade of the Nalasopara police station were arrested under the provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, a senior police officer said.

All three have been taken to the Special Investigation Team's headquarters at Pune and will be produced before the special MCOCA Court there on Sunday morning, SIT sources said.

The Special Investigating Team on Sunday night arrested Samajwadi Janata Party legislator from Dhule Anil alias Anna Gote on Sunday night in Pune in connection with the multicrore stamp paper racket that rocked Maharashtra recently.

The Special Investigation Team had recently questioned senior police officials, including Sawant and Assistant Commissioner of Police Ramakant Paudwal, regarding the scam.

When the Mumbai police managed to get custody of Telgi, they took him to his house in Cuffe Parade instead of the crime branch headquarters. That is where the special investigating officer, Deputy Inspector General Subodh Jaiswal, found Telgi and the policemen partying. The commission also passed strictures against Mumbai Police Commissioner R S Sharma.

Recently Jaiswal had visited the head of Mumbai crime branch Joint Commissioner of Police Dr Satyapal Singh. There was speculation that Jaiswal had met Singh to apprise him of the findings of the commission regarding Sawant.

But Singh, who refused to say what the meeting was all about, had said, "Jaiswal is a long term friend and there is nothing new in meeting him."

The police action came after the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted to probe the scam, wrote to the Mumbai police requesting cancellation of the lodge's licence, police sources said on Wednesday.

The SIT has urged the special MCOCA court in Pune to attach this property along with nearly half a dozen others that belong to Telgi.

The SIT suspects Telgi purchased the lodge from the scam money. It has evidence that he had visited the lodge to collect money when he was in the custody of the Mumbai police, allegedly accompanied by Crime Branch officials, sources said.

Though the SIT had brought this to the notice of a senior Crime Branch official, no action was taken against the erring policemen.

Interestingly, the Crime Branch officers had also taken Telgi to his Cuffe Parade apartment in January 2003. SIT chief Subodh Jaiswal and Karnataka Additional DGP Sree Kumar had raided the place and arrested Telgi.

The SIT has sealed some of his properties in Mumbai: Cuffe Parade apartment, a flat at Shirin Manzil, an apartment in Sunny House and a duplex at Mathuradas Estate. The SIT suspects Telgi has a stake in Thane Polyorganics, an industrial unit. It has sealed but not attached the property.

The SIT, sources said, has recently recorded the statement of one more Crime Branch official. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal has said the arrest of senior IPS official Shridhar Wagal in connection with the fake stamp paper racket would not affect the morale of the police.

Wagal is the seniormost police officer to be arrested in connection with the fake stamp paper scam. Bhujbal, who also heads the home ministry, said it was for the courts to decide whether Wagal is guilty or not.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the multi-crore scam has been given full freedom and action would be initiated against those guilty, he told reporters at Mantralaya in Mumbai.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau is helping the SIT in conducting the operation, a senior state police official told PTI. The raids started immediately after Wagal's arrest. The Special Investigating Team on Wednesday evening arrested Deputy Commissioner of Police Pradeep Sawant in connection with the fake stamp paper racket. Sawant is a highly decorated officer of the Mumbai police.

The arrest followed an over five-hour interrogation at the SIT's Worli office. He will be produced before a special court on Thursday for remand.

Sawant is accused of going soft on Abdul Karim Telgi when the latter was in custody of the Mumbai police between November 2002 to January 2003 for 85 days. At that time, he was a Deputy Commissioner of Police in the Crime Branch of the Mumbai police.

The Special Investigation Team probing the stamp paper scam has summoned former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal's nephew Sameer and private secretary S K Bankar on Monday.

SIT chief S S Puri will personally question the two, who have been asked to report at SIT's office in Worli, Mumbai, sources said.

An InterviewAn Interview

Julio F Ribeiro, one of Mumbai's best-known police commissioners, was shocked to know that present city Police Commissioner Ranjit

Singh Sharma was interrogated by a Special Investigating Team for 14 hours.

In an interview to Associate Editor and Chief Correspondent Syed Firdaus Ashraf in Mumbai, Ribeiro -- the highly acclaimed director general of police of Punjab during the worst phase of terrorism in the state -- says he is ashamed at the state of the Mumbai police today.

What was your reaction on hearing that the Special Investigating Team interrogated Mumbai Police Commissioner R S Sharma in the

Telgi case?

I feel ashamed and sad that the police force that was so well respected has come to this situation. The Telgi case has demoralised the Mumbai police force. I know top police officers in the Mumbai police who have no enthusiasm left after this case.

I feel that the people of Bombay should sit up and take notice. In my opinion, the home minister of Maharashtra, Chhagan Bhujbal, has singlehandedly destroyed the force.

I won't say it was good during the Shiv Sena's time. One Mumbai police commissioner used to go and touch (Shiv Sena leader) Bal Thackeray's feevery now and then during his time.

Why has this happened?

This has happened because the political class has manipulated the police and they in turn are not respecting the rule of law. Policemen are only respecting political parties and the home minister's order now.

How were things different in your time?

In our time, we had good political leaders and good officers. They were people of great moral character. You wouldn't find politicians interfering in police officers' jobs. There was corruption to some extent, there was always some corruption during the British time too, but that was a 'need-based' corruption. Today there is 'greed-based' corruption.

When you left the police did you ever expect things would go so badly?

Never. Over a period of time the parties who have come to power have all done these things. Now the situation is very bad.

Why are you targeting Mr Bhujbal in particular?

I have nothing against him. When I meet him I talk to him. I feel he should not have thrown out good people from top police posts. That was a stupid decision. I am now worried about the consequences

of his actions. He is supporting wrong people in the police force.

Is the home minister more powerful compared to your time?

There were attempts of political interference in my time but I did not allow it. When I was transferred I said I won't do the job. So you have to stand up to the bullies.

Today in the army, if you tell [Chief of Army Staff] General N C Vij that you promote this brigadier here and there, we will lose all wars. You should appoint a good commissioner and good director general. Politicians must not interfere. There are competent people in the police force and you must let them do their job.

Politicians are not elected to run the police force. Today, politicians wmoney, power and at the same time want police officers to work for them.

Are you in touch with the police officers of today? If yes, what do they tell you?

Yes, I am in touch with them. Many good officers tell me they want to get out of the police force. Those who don't want to resign go to the Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing or Central Bureau of Investigation.

Those who want to be in uniform go to the paramilitary like the Central Reserve Police Force and National Security Guard.

But Mr Bhujbal and the Democratic Front government claim the crime rate in Mumbai has decreased.

I am not sure of these statistics. They are not always correct. If murders have come down I would like to see that figure.

Why did you meet the chief minister?

I want the chief minister of Maharashtra to take the home portfolio under him. If his government is supporting the wrong people I have the right to inform him about these things.

Do you think if social activist Anna Hazare had not filed a public interest litigation in the Telgi case, things would not have moved so

fast?

Senior police officers would not have been caught if the high court had not intervened. The Special Investigating Team reports to the home department. Do you think these people can go against the DG [director general of police] and commissioner? That is not possible.

How easy is it for people like Telgi to manipulate policemen?

It is very easy. Money speaks.

There was a controversy a few months ago about the post of Mumbai police commissioner. The media alleged the post was up for

sale. Do you believe that?

This is what the policemen too say. They say that every post has a price. First, during the Shiv Sena government, I heard a policemen paid Rs 40 lakhs (Rs 4 million) to be in a higher post. I could not believe it. Now everyone talks about it. Everybody knows how much one has to

pay to be in which post. A sub inspector, an inspector... all posts.

Why did this not happen in your time?

We had better political leaders. When I was appointed Babasaheb Bhosale was the chief minister and Shrikant Jichkar was home secretary, a very honest man. He never took anything from anyone.

But do you think the post of Mumbai police commissioner is for sale?

I hope it is not. But I tell you the next time it will not happen. I am not going to elaborate on my plans.

Don't you feel that the Mumbai police should be proud because it was successful in eliminating gangsters?

I don't think anybody should be proud of it. I think encounters take place because the public wants it. Encounters are taking place because the judicial process is so slow in our country. I have given lectures to judges. They should not allow adjournments of cases of hardcore criminals. 

Don't you think the Mumbai police is a good police force?

Yes, it is a good police force but they need a great leader to lead them.

Solving the August 25 twin blasts case was an achievement, wasn't it?

Yes, they have great informants. They take pains to solve the problem. No big criminal goes scot-free. The Mumbai blasts took place in March 1993 and they had solved the case by April. It took six months for the New York police to find Ramzi Yousef's name in the World Trade Centre blast of 1993..

What would you have done if you were Maharashtra's director general of police today?

I would have not gone to Mantralaya (the state secretariat) very often. I would have stated that I would not sign the orders to transfer good officers. But I was fortunate to get good politicians. Today there are vicious people in power.

Now take [Sridhar] Vagal, why was he made joint commissioner? No one knows. I have written a letter to the director general press information in Mantralaya to let me know why he was given that post. I have the right to know this under the Right to Information Act.

Mr R S Sharma worked under you. How was he at that time?

Many of today's police officers worked for me and all of them worked very hard. Even Vagal was under me and they were the best. I am surprised that the same Sharma was called for a 14-hour interrogation. I could have understood if it was for two hours but 14 hours! I am shocked.

As a citizen of this city, what do you think the Mumbai police is not doing?

The duty of the police is to befriend law-abiding citizens. At the moment there are complaints that they are extorting [money from] people. Individually no one approaches the police station. This culture has reached the top level. I feel people should organise themselves in their own areas to solve issues with the police.

HistoryHistory

Royal treatment for Telgi

Abdul Karim Telgi, the prime accused in the multi- crore fake stamp paper scam, had received Luxurious treatment while in custody of Mumbai crime branch between November 2002 and January 2003, sources in the Special Investigating Team (S.I.T) stated.

Instead of lodging him in the crime branch lock-up, the police had put him up in hotel Apsara in Kurla for nearly 30 days. S.I.T sources alleged that Telgi was accorded royal treatment and provided with comforts of an air conditioned room and other luxuries. An S.I.T officer stated , Telgi was brought to Mumbai in November 2002 on a transfer warrant in a murder case registered against him at Cuffe Parade Police Station. Strangely this case was transferred from Cuffe Parade Police Station to Dharavi unit of crime branch. Two officers from this unit, namely Dattatrey Dhal and Dilip Kamat were already familiar with Telgi. Kamat was earlier posted at the Colaba Police Station where a case was registered against Telgi in 1995, but the latter managed to bribe officers and go scot free. When Telgi was brought to Dharavi Crime Branch in November 2002, Kamat and Dhal showed him as an accused in seven offences of fake stamp papers, Although the sought Telgis Police custody, the latter was not kept in a lock-up the S.I,T officers said.

The two officers also did precious little to investigate the seven cases. Instead the took bribes from Telgi to arrange an ac room for him in Hotel Apsara in Kurla, the officer said. The hotel authorities were unavailable for comment.

Kamat and Dhal were booked by the S.I.T have now been booked under the aiding and and abetting Telgi in the scam.

Sources said the the officers had not kept any records about Telgis Stay at the hotel.. the also did not make any record in the dairy entry at the crime branch office about Telgis visit to the Hotel. The Sit has, however, come across certain evidence which shows that Telgi had enjoyed the comforts in the hotel while in Police custody. It is learnt that SIT has seized records from motor transport department , whose vehicle had escorted Telgi and the Police man to the hotel The S.I.T has also questioned a few witness in this connection.

A crime branch official in Mumbai on Wednesday confirmed that Telgi that Telgi was put up in at a hotel during custody. it was wrong and illegal he said.What has come as a surprise to the S.I.T is that Dhal and kamat were favouring Telgi allegedly at the behest of a senior police officer from the crime branch. This officer is still to be questioned in the case. He is also likely to face arrest in the scam.

Abdul Karim Telgi Ki Ajeeb Dastaan.

“Lala” Telgi’s Code name was the son of a Class 4 employee in the railways. After his father’s death, he picked fruits from the forest and sold them at the Khanapur station. He and his brothers studied at the local Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, an English-Medium School. He completed his B.Com from a Belgaum college before moving to Saudi Arabia. Came to Mumbai after seven years in Saudi Arabia and worked as a travel agent. Later he worked in a Colaba guest house. Around this time he developed underworld links.

Arrested in 1991by Mumbai police for cheating, learnt the tricks of the trade from an expert forger in prison. He bribed his way out of the jail and bided this time. In 1994, he acquired a stamp paper license, set up at Mint Road and ‘befriended’ people in the revenue ministry, stamp office and Nashik Security Press where stamp papers are printed.

He used his political connections to get the machinery at the Nashik press declared as ‘junk’; brought it as the highest bidder; set up the machinery at his office in Mumbai.

Obtained the original die for printing in connivance with Nashik security officials and began printing Fake Stamp Papers. His excellent political connections to procure imported paper.

“Friends” at the Nashik press informed him about the serial numbers of papers being published during the month. Telgi’s Fakes carried the same numbers and reached the Mumbai markets

The Fakes were then distributed to authorized members and sold along with genuine ones. Telgi bribed officials to create a shortage in the supply of stamp papers.

He appointed 300 people, including M.B.A.’s as agents who sold the fake to bulk purchasers: banks, FIs, insurance companies, Share broking firms. His monthly earnings were 100 crores.

Several cases against him in the 90’s.Was denied bail but not arrested. Finally arrested in August 2001, after he’d made crores in the business spanning 72 centers in 12 states over 10 years.

Printer’s Devil.

The Swindler’s Story began when Abdul Karim Telgi started printing and distributing fake stamp papers in Mumbai in 1995. He bought a second hand printing machine from the Nashik Security Press at an auction. He then reportedly stole original dies used for manufacturing stamps and stamp papers. His excellent political connections helped him procure imported paper and organized that his fakes couldn’t be distinguished from the originals. This printing and sales of fake stamp duty paper spread losses worth crores of rupees to the Indian government. The fake stamp papers were then sold in the market through Telgi’s distribution agents – most of these agents included several authorized stamp vendors. Telgi paid hefty commissions to buy their silence. As a result nobody leaked information about the racket to the enforcement authorities. He bought politicians too. These politicians, who were on Telgi’s regular payroll deliberately created a shortage in supply of stamp papers in Mumbai. It was then that Telgi’s marketing agents sold the fakes for a premium outside the government stamp office in fort area.

When finally the Mumbai police got wind of the scam and registered cases against telgi at 12 police stations, telgi simply bribed his way out of the hole he suddenly found himself in. He managed to escape from Mumbai despite the court rejecting is bail application. The Banglore police suddenly arrested him in Ajmer in august 2000. By then his scam had spread across 12 states.Telgi’s organized racket had the connivance of officials from the Nashik Security Press, IAS and IPS officers, lawyers, MLA’s, cabinet ministers and even former state minister.

The 1st Arrest: Andhra Pradesh police first unearthed the stamp paper scam way back in 1999. They even arrested Telgi who managed to secure bail within a week with the connivance of some city police officers. The case was handed over to the CID for further probe, which failed to file a charge sheet even after a 4-year investigation. People almost forgot the case until the Maharashtra Police arrested TDP legislator C.Krishna Yadav in September this year. Yadav reportedly demanded Rs 2 crores from Telgi as protection money. Yadav is currently in Pune jail. The Andhra Pradesh also set up S.I.T to probe the scam but the team made little headway.

General OpnionsGeneral Opnions

Lawyers:Lawyers:

Telgi Scam was started in the year 1991 but came into light 1 year ago. The first case was registered in Pune but no action was taken against him.

Abdul Karim Ladsab Telgi of Indian origin is booked under the Indian Penal Code Section 255,256,257,258,259,260 which covers

counterfeiting and the most important Section 256 which involves Making and Selling Government Documents.

In relevance with the stamp scam the government has forbidden the sale of such stamps through dealers or private vendors. Now days , Stamp papers are issued at respective Court counters and Town halls.

Social Reformer ‘Anna Hazare’ exposed the scam and hence it came to light. The police force is completely demoralized.The government has made all dealings done through fake stamp papers ‘Legal’.

The lawyers say that this scam has ‘Rocked’ the economy of India and different States.

Police:Police:

We visited the Santacruz Police Station and The Bandra Police Station and spoke with L.B.Shaikh (I.S.P) and Arun Sarwe (Head Constable).

According to them the scam started in the year 1991 and the main people involved were Abdul Karim .L. Telgi and everyone who supporten him including all the police and politicians.

They said that stern action was taken by the government by arresting most of the players who helped Telgi in his multi crore scam.

When asked what the role of the police was and if the Mumbai Police is still the second best in the world, Inspector Shaikh agreed and replied “The Maharashtra Police Force have themselves strict action against their Colleagues and Superiors by arresting them.Hence this proves that the Maharashtra Police Force is still the second best as who the defaulter is has to be punished – on this principle the morale of the police force is high”.

No one, even the police knows where all the money has gone. It seems as if it has vanished into thin air.

When asked for their comments the said that they should always take action against the defaulters and put them behind bars.

Public:

The general public opinion about the Telgi Scam is that they are least bothered about the whole scam. The public is outraged as they feel cheated and they are surprised on the hypes at which corruption can reach and feel the accused should be punished.

The declaration of the government that all the dealings on the fake scam paper are valid has enlightened the public to a certain extent.

Whatever little trust the public had on the Police Department has evaporated after the whole scam came into light.

The anger and the distrust in the hearts of the people against the government has grown even more after the whole incident.

Overall, the Telgi scam has not affected the public directly so they are least bothered about what is happening right now.

I am not the kingpin, claims Abdul Karim Telgi

Seeking to give a new twist, prime accused in the multi-thousand crore fake stamp paper scam, Abdul Karim Telgi claimed that another accused Mohammed Sayeed was the "kingpin" of the racket.

"Mohammed Sayeed is the kingpin. I have told everything to the police," Telgi told the media as he was whisked away by police after being produced in a court.

When asked about details regarding Sayeed, head of the Special Investigation Team (STAMPIT) in Karnataka, and that the man was arrested by STAMPIT from Kolkata on April 28 last year.

Sayeed was also wanted in stamp paper racket cases registered in Pune as also by Crime Branch-CID. Currently, he is in the custody of Mumbai Police.

Sayeed, in his 50s, was in the fake stamp paper business earlier than Telgi. Sayeed specialized in recycling of stamps.

Telgi also said he is "happy" that the Karnataka Government has handed over the case to CBI, from which he was confident of getting "justice". He has claimed that Ram Jethmalani would fight his case in the Supreme Court.

Questionnaire:

How and when did the Telgi Scam begin?

Who are the main Characters/Players of the Telgi Scam?

What are the actions taken by the government? What has the government done to bring an end to the scam?

Are the business dealings carried on so far Valid or Invalid? Why?

What is the impact of Telgi Scam on India?

What is the role of Mumbai Police Force? Is the Mumbai Police Force the second best in the world?

What happened about the money? Where did it go?

Why was the S.I.T chosen over the C.B.I?

Has the government come up with any remedies?

Your Personal Opinion about the Telgi Scam?