Karnataka High Court Grants Bail To Ex-MP's Son Booked In CBI Case Over Alleged Counterfeiting & Forgery Of Govt Stamps

The Karnataka High Court recently granted bail to DA Srinivas, son of late former MP D.K. Adikesavulu, who has been booked in a case registered by the CBI over alleged counterfeiting and forgery of government stamps and documents. The case was lodged after a complaint was filed by Sub-Registrar, Gandhinagar alleging that he came to know through a newspaper report that forged documents were prepared using a machine which belongs to his office and 08 documents of Yelahanka Sub-Registrar Office, 09 documents of Shivajinagar Sub-Registrar Office and 05 documents of Kengeri Sub-Registrar Office were prepared while using forged seal and signature of his office officials. Earlier the SIT was conducting a probe, after a court direction the matter was transferred to the CBI which had filed the present case. The petitioner had approached the Supreme Court seeking a stay of the transfer order. The Supreme Court had stayed the investigation of the case on 14.11.2022; it had subsequently dismissed the SLP directing the CBI to conclude the investigation within 8 months from the date of receipt of the order. Justice Shivashankar Amrannavar in his order said:"Even as per the prosecution case, the alleged counterfeiting of government stamps and seals is attributed to some other accused persons who in fact have been already charge-sheeted by the Special Investigation Team. There is no direct allegation that the petitioner has operated the franking machine, forged seals or manufactured stamp papers. The allegation is one of association or alleged usage. During the course of further investigation by the CBI, the petitioner was not immediately arrayed as an accused. He appeared before the CBI-IO as and when summoned and furnished all documents. CBI has already collected documentary, oral, and circumstantial evidence...It is alleged that the petitioner had won over the officers of State Investigating Agency and got FSL report in his favour and the officers who helped the petitioner have been booked. Now the matter has been investigated by CBI, well-reputed Investigating agency. As the major portion of the investigation is over and the fact that the CFSL report has also been received by the Investigating Agency, it cannot be now be alleged that there are chances of the petitioner winning over the Officers of the Investigating Agency and the prosecution witnesses"Considering these aspects as well as the fact that a major portion of the investigation is over, the court granted bail to the petitioner on him furnishing a bail bond of Rs. 5 Lakh with two sureties for the like sum subject to certain conditions. The court was hearing the bail plea of DA Srinivas, arrayed as accused No.9, in a 2022 case registered by the CBI for the offences including Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 465(forgery), 255(punishment for counterfeiting), 256(possessing instruments or materials intended for counterfeiting government revenue stamps), 257(making, selling, buying, or disposing of any instrument intended for counterfeiting government revenue stamps) among others. The counsel for the petitioner contended that he is not involved in counterfeiting of stamp paper as he had purchased the stamp paper through his employee and he does not know who forged the stamp paper. It was argued that in the earlier investigation the alleged conspiracy between the petitioner with other accused who have been chargesheeted was not revealed.It was argued that the other 5 accused who have been charge sheeted, who are stamp vendors, machine operator and from whom stamp paper has been recovered have been granted bail. The petitioner who is alleged of conspiracy with the said accused persons is similarly placed to that of those accused persons and therefore, he is entitled for grant of bail on the ground of parity. It was argued that the Special Investigation Team had stated that petitioner has no role bur the CBI has stated that the petitioner has role in the conspiracy in counterfeiting of the stamp papers etc. There are conflicting opinions by two agencies therefore, the petitioner is entitled for grant of bail on that ground.The plea was allowed. Case title: SRI D A SRINIVAS v/s CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONCRIMINAL PETITION No. 961 OF 2026Click Here To Read/Download OrderCitation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 94

Karnataka High Court Grants Bail To Ex-MP's Son Booked In CBI Case Over Alleged Counterfeiting & Forgery Of Govt Stamps

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