BANGALORE: The Special Court trying the stamp paper racket on Friday permitted Abdul Kareem Telgi, prime accused in the scam, to make a confessional statement, but only in cases in Karnataka in which charges have not been framed.

The Judge, Vishwanath Virupax Agadi, however, rejected Telgi's request that he should be brought to Bangalore for making the confessional statement. The judge said Telgi, who is lodged in Pune's Yerwada Prison, could make the confessional statement from there through videoconferencing.

Telgi's plea was turned down for security reasons.

The court granted Telgi three weeks from May 30 to make the confession under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Apart from the judge, only technicians required for conducting videoconferencing, a typist, and advocates concerned will be present when the statement is recorded.

Of the 10 cases registered against Telgi in the State, charges have been framed in two cases. The trial in the case registered in the Madivala police station has started, and that in a case registered in the Peenya police station is scheduled to begin on June 5.

Telgi had earlier told the court that his confession statement would run into more than 400 pages and cover all 10 cases registered against him in the State, including the case registered with the Madivala police station, in which he was accused of continuing the illegal stamp paper even after he was lodged in the Bangalore Central Prison.

He had told the court that he could not make the confessional statement through videoconferencing as he was concerned whether the proceedings would be confidential. "I want to make my confession before the magistrate in presence of my advocate and the CBI advocate. I do not want any other person to hear my statement," he had said.

Senior Public Prosecutor of CBI P. Govindan had argued that a statement under Section 164 of the CrPC could only be made before the commencement of an inquiry or before a trial. The stage of inquiry would start once the court took cognisance of the offence and sent notices to the accused. The trial stage began after the court framed charges against the accused, he said.

CBI's Special Public Prosecutor V.M. Sheelavant had contended that bringing Telgi to Bangalore involved high security risk and the Government would have to incur expenditure on arrangements.

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