BANGALORE: It is 2003, and even as Abdul Karem Lala, alias Abdul Telgi, is conducting business from jail, he appears to be worried over the spate of cases being booked against him and his accomplices.

His conversation with Shiva, his aide in Hyderabad, Ali Illiyas in Bangalore and with Jacob and Rafi reveal his apprehensions.

The phone conversations were tapped and taped by the Stamp Investigation Team (STAMPIT) in Bangalore and were, till a few weeks ago, in the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Currently, the tapes are with the Special Court in Bangalore.

Names discussed

Telgi, during his conversation with Jacob, discusses the names of several police officials of a neighbouring State. When Telgi asks Badru if he has made the payment, he gives a break-up of the amount that would have to be paid to the officials.

Jacob says the amount he has quoted is "final" and the " bargain" price. He promises Telgi that within a day or two all investigations into the racket in that State would cease.

When Jacob brings up the name of a Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police, Telgi is anxious to know how far and reliable the "link" is.

Jacob tells Telgi that he has been asked by the officials to maintain confidentiality. "Ek do din ke andar sab police kaam bandh hoga". When Telgi asks how this can happen when he is in jail, he is told that Shankar will take care of him. Both Jacob and Telgi speak about before whom the case should come up if relief is to be secured. When told that they would move an application for bail on his behalf, Telgi retorts that he is not entitled to bail as he is in custody.

Switching from Hindi to English, he remarks, "When a person is in custody there is no bail. First talk to the police and then to the advocate." He admits that "lega say kaam nahi hoga."

He names a police official and asks his aide to contact him as he has paid sufficient money.

The tapes reveal Telgi running his business with an iron fist and also keeping tabs on the course of investigation, the cases booked against him and his accomplices and the progress of the case in different courts.

The regular talks that he had with Badruddin, Ali Illiyas, Jacob, Waheed, Shiva and others prove that Telgi was kept updated on the day-to-day affairs of his business. However, the investigation by STAMPIT was an irritant and the tapes reveal his anxiety to somehow put a stop to the investigation.

Excerpts

Here are some experts of the conversations:

Telgi and Shiva in Hyderabad, 2003.

Shiva (S) - Good morning sir.

Telgi (T) - Chappundi saar.

S: Aap toh kingmaker ho saab

T: Kya kingmaker. Mei jail me hoon, aur tum bahar ho. Chennai mei kya ho raha hai, ek aadmi chahiye udar.

S: Me jaake discuss karoonga.

T: Tu aaja mere paas hum idar discuss karenge.

Next morning:

S: Contract ka kya sir

T: (Laughs) Contract mil jayega. Kaam sikado sab ko.

S: OK sir, mera naya number lelo, 9845030697

Same afternoon:

T: Hyderabad me kaam hua, ab Chennai ko baat karlo.

S: Sab kaam ho gaya, plan barabar hai.

T: Very good: Very good. Kaam kar lo.

S: Sir, mei Sunday udhar aa jaoonga.

With Rafi:

Rafi (R): Caveat court me file ho gaya hai sir. Sir market case mei A-1 kaun hai.

T: Madhu. Caveat ka copy dekh lo.

R: Madhu bol raha hai mei involved nahin hoon.

T: Mei dekh loonga. Abhi magistrate court mei kya hua aaj.

R: 101 per cent kaam ho jayega, sir. Sab log assurance de rahe hai, sir.

T: Kulkarni (advovate) se baat hua?

R: Haan sir, abhi woh shopping kar raha hai

T: Baat karvao

With Jacob:

T: Kya section book hua?

J: 462, 430, 474, 255, 256, 259 aur 120-B IPC.

T Bara bar teek hai?

J: FIR copy mila, sir.

T: Kaun handle kar raha hai?

J: Do inspector hain, sir; ek saab samne baita hai (no reference made).

T: Bat karvao?

T: Hello saab

Saab: Good evening, sir.

T: When is the meeting with Shankar?

Saab: Tomorrow, sir.

T: Ask him openly.

J: Woh log sab clear karenge, sir.

T: DIG se uppar ek aadmi hai, usse bat karo.

J: Aaj subah Shankar se milne wala hai.

(Concluded)

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