Two Telgi henchmen held in Delhi

The Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police’s Crime Branch has arrested two persons, allegedly involved in manufacturing and selling counterfeit revenue stamps as members of the multi-crore stamp racket being run by Abdul Kareem Telgi. The two, Lalit Kumar Patodi and Sushant Kumar Dass, are residents of Kaushambi in Ghaziabad.

The South District police had, in May, arrested seven persons in connection with a fake stamps racket. DCP (EOW), Dinesh Bhatt said: ‘‘On the basis of the disclosure of those arrested, we have been able to arrest these two persons.’’ ‘‘During interrogation, Patodi said he had rented out one of his offices in Connaught Place to Telgi’s associates. His office was being used for the sale of fake stamp papers. Later, he provided two more office spaces to Telgi’s men to carry out their activities,’’ said DCP Bhatt.

Patodi admitted to having met Telgi on a number of occasions in a hotel at Chanakyapuri.

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‘‘During one of these meetings, Telgi asked Patodi to assist him in his business of counterfeit stamp papers. Thereafter, Patodi opened two bogus accounts at the Minto Road branch of PNB, in the name of Capital Services and Sharp Enterprises — being operated by one Suhail Khan, a henchman of Telgi,’’ said a senior police officer.

The other accused, Dass, a property dealer, helped in hiring offices at Gole Market and Karol Bagh for Telgi’s associates.

Dass too met Telgi at the Chanakyapuri hotel and later opened two bogus accounts in the name of Sharp Enterprises and City Enterprises in Syndicate Bank, Patparganj, and Standard Chartered Grindlays, GK-I, the police officer added.