National
SC refuses to cancel bail for policemen involved in Telgi scam

New Delhi, Aug. 19 (PTI): The CBI suffered a setback with the Supreme Court refusing to cancel the bail granted to two Mumbai police officers charged with extending patronage and protection to Abdul Karim Telgi, the kingpin of the multi-crore stamp paper scandal.

However, the apex court said it did not agree with the Bombay High Court's view that "deliberate inaction or studied negligence on the part of a responsible police officer could not amount to abetting or knowingly facilitating the commission of an organised crime".

"Any studied inaction or aid extended to the members of an organised gang involved in such crime might also amount to an offence under MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) and this fact cannot be forgotten when dealing with the case of a police officer allegedly involved in the crime," a bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice P K Balasubramanyan said.

The CBI had filed the appeal against the bail granted by the Bombay High Court to the two officers -- then Deputy Commissioner of Police (Mumbai), Pradeep Balchandra and Dharavi Crime Branch Inspector Vashishta Rambhau Andhale.

Both officers were charged by the CBI with aiding and abetting Telgi in the counterfeit stamp paper racket that rocked the country in 2003.

National

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