Telgi, 2 doctors get 7 yrs in jail

Special Judge Virupax Angadi who found the two Government doctors8212;K N Channakeshava and K H Jnanendrappa8212;guilty along with Telgi, imposed fines of Rs 14 lakh each on the two doctors and Rs 25 lakh on Telgi. The doctors were found guilty of receiving illegal gratification to produce fake certificates to help Telgi seek bail on medical grounds of being a diabetic.

The judge had adjourned the verdict on the sentence after hearing arguments on the sentence on Wednesday.

The CBI who investigated the case filed a chargesheet in September 2004 against the three for conspiracy, abetment to commit offences, receipt of illegal gratification and abuse of official position by public servants. The doctors8212;an administrative officer and an assistant professor of medicine8212;were terminated from their positions at the Government Victoria Hospital following their arrest by the CBI in 2004.

The CBI built a case to show that administrative officer Dr K N Channakeshava and Dr K H Jnanendrappa, who was in-charge of the diabetic clinic, conspired with Telgi to furnish exaggerated medical certificates between June 2002 and September 2002. The CBI said Telgi paid the two doctors a bribe amounting to over Rs 5 lakh to obtain the fake certificates.

Two medical certificates were issued by K H Jnanendrappa 8220;exaggerating the diabetic ailment of accused Abdul Karim Telgi by flouting the procedure for issue of such medical certificates8221;, the CBI said in its chargesheet.

Investigations had showed that the bribe amount was used by Channakeshava to repay a loan of Rs 1 lakh taken by him for the purchase of a second-hand car. He also deposited Rs 50000 in his bank account soon after receipt of the bribe, the CBI said.