The Hindu : Karnataka News : Officials discuss trial of stamp paper accused

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 19, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Officials discuss trial of stamp paper accused

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, FEB. 18. Senior officials of Karnataka and Maharashtra and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday discussed steps for the smooth functioning of the videoconferencing facility for conducting the trial of the accused in the multi-crore stamp paper racket.

According to a release from the CBI, the Principal Secretary (Home), Karnataka; the Principal Secretary (Prisons), Maharashtra; the Joint Director, CBI; and senior police officials from the two States attended the meeting here.

The trial of criminal cases pending against Abdul Karim Telgi, the alleged mastermind of the racket, and his accomplices through videoconferencing will commence at several places, including Mumbai and Pune, once the mechanism is put in place, the release said.

The Supreme Court on January 10, 2005, on a plea by the CBI, directed the Karnataka and Maharashtra governments to install videoconferencing facility between courts and jails for conducting the trial.

The apex court had also directed the two governments to appoint nodal officers to expedite the process. The CBI had sought trial through videoconferencing as the accused in 48 cases connected with the racket are lodged in several jails across the country, the release said.

Following an initiative by the CBI, the nodal officer of Maharashtra and his technical team came to Bangalore on Thursday.

The team inspected the videoconferencing facilities at various locations and held discussions with senior officials of Karnataka, including those from Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd., the release said.

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