Four other co-accused also pleaded guilty. Of these, Abdul Wahid, Jacob Chacko and Balaji were awarded five years RI and fine while Peter Kennedy was given one year RI.

Long stay

Since these accused have already spent over five years in jail, they are expected to be released while Telgi, who is now in Yerawada jail in Pune and who is facing similar cases in several States, will have to spend a longer time in prison.

Sarfraz Nawaz was the first accused to plead guilty in the case and he was awarded five years The case against five other accused, and who were later suspended, DGP of police Mohammed Ali, the then SP of Crime Branch CID Shankar, LIC agent Ramasamy Sadhu and Telgi’s agent Nizamuddin and his wife Nazreen will continue.

The charge-sheet was filed by the CBI on December 13, 2005. The case relates to sale of fake stamp papers by Telgi’s associates in Chennai with the connivance of top police officials of Tamil Nadu between 1998 and 2002.