Paid Rs 32 lakh to fix Mumbai top cop job: Telgi

Telgi alleged that the money was routed to former Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal through one Manoj Mehta and Bhujbal’s nephew, Sameer. When contacted by The Indian Express, Sameer denied the allegation. He said: ‘‘I don’t know anything. I don’t know Manoj Mehta. And who am I to decide on the posting of police commissioner? This is ridiculous. I will talk to my lawyers about this.’’

Salient points from Telgi’s confession:

• R S Sharma is described by Telgi as his ‘‘godfather’’ in the report and says he met him frequently, even in hotels.

• Telgi ‘‘confirmed’’ paying Telugu Desam MLA Krishna Yadav Rs 22 lakh in 2002 to release his men allegedly abducted by the MLA. Yadav had initially demanded Rs 2 crore from Telgi.

• Telgi has spoken at length on his alleged association with former Karnataka Minister, Roshan Beig and his brother, Rehan Beig.

• There are lengthy details about how Telgi helped Dr Rehan Beig and gave him a job in Sana Hospital, which Telgi named after his daughter— and about the medical equipment and ambulances etc he procured for Rehan Beig.

• In his pre-interview session, before being administered the truth serum, Telgi alleged that he had even travelled abroad with Roshan Beig.

• Telgi also alleged that among the persons who were threatening him were Roshan Beig and Nanjappa, who was the Deputy Superintendent in Bangalore jail where Telgi was detained for a year. He also said he was under threat from some Bangalore-based police officers whom he did not name. Roshan Beig could not be contacted as he had not returned from Haj.

While the narco-analysis report (submitted to the Pune court today) is six pages, the pre-interview is lengthy and hasn’t been fully transcribed by the scientists. Chief Public Prosecutor representing SIT, Raja Thakre, told the court that certain names have been withheld because revealing them could hamper the investigation.

The report which was submitted in the Pune Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court today said during his narco-analysis test, Telgi described Sharma as his ‘‘good friend who helped him in the business to sell all his goods at Mumbai.’’

The report talks of another friend. ‘‘Anil Gote also helped him (Telgi) in selling his stamp papers…. Telgi and Gote started their own political party and captured six MLA seats. A Kisan Trust was formed by Anil Gote and Telgi at Bombay and Telgi has donated heavily to the trust.’’

It also mentions TDP MLA Yadav. ‘‘Krishna Yadav had demanded Rs 2 crore and when he (Telgi) expressed his inability to pay the amount, Krishna Yadav kidnapped two of Telgi’s officials and demanded a huge amount,’’ the report said.

The report added: ‘‘… when asked about role of police officers and politicians in Karnataka, he refused to give their names stating there is a threat to his life by these people… all VVIPs and important police officers. Due to these threats, he says, he has taken concrete steps not to reveal the names of all police officers and politicians who have taken help from him.’’

Legal experts say none of these statements could be used as evidence. The SIT assured the special court overseeing the Telgi cases that the test would be used as an investigative tool, not as evidence. Their lawyers have argued it is a violation of Aricle 20(3) of the Constitution: ‘‘No person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.’’

The test requires court permission—which the SIT got in December 2003—and a suspect’s signed consent. Four suspects—Maharashtra MLA Anil Gote, Assistant Police Inspector Dilip Kamath, Security Press officer Ramachandra Reddy and Rehan Baig, brother of Karnataka minister Roshan Baig—have challenged the use of narcoanalysis.

B M Mohan, head of the Forensic Laboratory in Bangalore, confirmed to The Indian Express that both the arrested Banalore jailers, Superintendent Jayasimha and Deputy Superintendent Nanjappa will be brought for their narco-analysis tests on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Laboratory has also filed an application to get Telgi for a second round of narco-analysis in the laboratory, and the appeal is likely to be heard by the Pune court also tomorrow.

Mohan told The Indian Express: ‘‘The Telgi case is a perfect example of how very relevant information can be testified via technology. The tests on Telgi were very successful and the courts should have an open mind to suspects being put through them.’’

(with bureau reports from Pune/Mumbai)