Abdul Karim Telgi, DH file photo
Abdul Karim Telgi's last wish to die in Bengaluru has been answered. Of the seven cases booked against the kingpin of fake stamp paper scam in the city, the high court had disposed of six cases. But Telgi was not keen to proceed the last one as he wanted to die in the city.
Senior Counsel, M T Nanaiah who represented Telgi in all cases told DH, “Out of seven cases filed against him in the city, the high court had acquitted him in two cases and convicted in four cases for seven years in all the four cases. Only one case registered in the Upparpet police station was pending which Telgi did not want to proceed to avoid being haunted by the police from other states."
Nanaiah further added that, “there were around 28 cases filed against him in 13 states. Now that he is dead, the entire multi-crore stamp paper scam is a closed chapter.”
Telgi spent 16 years in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison as an undertrial. He was not entitled to parole as he was not a convicted prisoner. His only way out from prison was on medical grounds or special occasions such as his daughter's wedding or death of a loved one.
According to sources, Telgi had spent so long at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison that it became his comfort zone. He had a separate cell, personal helpers. On top of it, he had access to members of his family who are residing in Bengaluru. After suffering multiple organ failures he preferred to stay in Bengaluru Central Jail.