‘States get month to mull prosecution’

The Supreme Court today directed Karnataka and Maharashtra governments to consider within four weeks the CBI’s request seeking sanction for prosecution of top government and police officials accused in the Rs 30,000 crore Telgi fake stamp paper scam. Appearing for the investigating agency, Additional Solicitor General Amarendra Saran informed the court that several requests of sanction for prosecution of top government officials and police personnel are pending before the governments of Maharashtra and Karnataka and requested the court that

they expedite their decision on the request.

A bench comprising Justice S.B. Sinha and Justice S.H. Kapadia directed the two states to process the request and take a decision within four weeks. It also directed the two states to appoint a nodal officer each to make compatible the existing video-conferencing system in the state for the purpose of trial of the accused in the case.