The Karnataka government on Monday handed over to the Special Investigating Team of the Maharashtra police, probing the fake stamp paper scam, 56 audio tapes containing conversations between prime accused Abdul Karim Telgi and others, including politicians and policemen.

The Bombay high court had actually directed the Karnataka government to provide transcripts of the tapes, which contain 1,300 conversations, by November 10.

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When the latter pleaded that it would not be able to meet the deadline as the conversations were in five languages – Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Urdu and English – the court directed the state to produce the audio tapes.

The tapes will help SIT chief S S Puri, who is probing the role of Mumbai Police Commissioner R S Sharma and other top policemen in the scam. The SIT has already questioned Sharma in the regard.

The court has directed him to submit a report on November 12.

The court has been acting on a public interest litigation filed by social activist Anna Hazare, through his advocate Majeed Memon. Hazare wants the tapes be played in court in the public's presence so they get an opportunity to know 'the reality of officials and politicians'.

With inputs from PTI