The special CBI court of Justice O.P. Saini on Thursday sent former telecom minister A. Raja and his two associates to five days in CBI custody for interrogation for their alleged role in the 2G spectrum scam.
The agency, for the first time, accused Raja of criminal conspiracy, corruption and causing a loss of Rs 22,000 crore to the exchequer by favouring certain telecom firms in the allocation of 2G spectrum licence.
But what’s ironical is that more than a year after registering a case against Raja in the 2G scam, the CBI, in its appeal to the court, has now claimed that if the former telecom minister is allowed to go out on bail, he could tamper with evidence and influence witnesses.
“The accused is highly influential and there is every likelihood of tampering with the records and influencing vital witnesses of the case if released on bail,” the CBI said in its remand paper on the basis of which Raja was sent to five days’ in CBI custody.
In its appeal the CBI further said that Raja’s custody is essential for questioning since he has so far been giving only “evasive replies” to their queries. On Thursday afternoon, Raja was produced in a packed courtroom along with two other accused — former telecom secretary Siddhartha Behuria and Raja’s former personal secretary R.K. Chandolia.
Citing the gravity of the allegations levied on the accused, the special judge said: “The allegations as referred are serious on the face of it and require no elaboration. Accordingly, considering the nature of the allegations, seriousness of gravity of offences and consequent need of interrogation…
I am satisfied that prayer for police custody remand is justified.” During the hearing, Raja’s counsel Ramesh Gupta strongly opposed the CBI plea saying his client was innocent and that all decisions in regard to granting of 2G spectrum licences had the approval of the Union cabinet.
Thus, Raja was not solely responsible in the alleged scam, Gupta contended. He also said that the CBI had seized all documents pertaining to the case in 2009 and Raja had already been interrogated at the agency’s headquarters several times in the past.
“This arrest by the CBI has only been done to justify its presence and to please the media,” Gupta said. Earlier, the CBI argued that it was because of Raja that at least two telecom firms — Swan Telecom and Unitech — benefitted to the tune of several hundred crores by selling their stakes to global firms shortly after getting the licences.
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The agency, for the first time, accused Raja of criminal conspiracy, corruption and causing a loss of Rs 22,000 crore to the exchequer by favouring certain telecom firms in the allocation of 2G spectrum licence.
But what’s ironical is that more than a year after registering a case against Raja in the 2G scam, the CBI, in its appeal to the court, has now claimed that if the former telecom minister is allowed to go out on bail, he could tamper with evidence and influence witnesses.
“The accused is highly influential and there is every likelihood of tampering with the records and influencing vital witnesses of the case if released on bail,” the CBI said in its remand paper on the basis of which Raja was sent to five days’ in CBI custody.
In its appeal the CBI further said that Raja’s custody is essential for questioning since he has so far been giving only “evasive replies” to their queries. On Thursday afternoon, Raja was produced in a packed courtroom along with two other accused — former telecom secretary Siddhartha Behuria and Raja’s former personal secretary R.K. Chandolia.
Citing the gravity of the allegations levied on the accused, the special judge said: “The allegations as referred are serious on the face of it and require no elaboration. Accordingly, considering the nature of the allegations, seriousness of gravity of offences and consequent need of interrogation…
I am satisfied that prayer for police custody remand is justified.” During the hearing, Raja’s counsel Ramesh Gupta strongly opposed the CBI plea saying his client was innocent and that all decisions in regard to granting of 2G spectrum licences had the approval of the Union cabinet.
Thus, Raja was not solely responsible in the alleged scam, Gupta contended. He also said that the CBI had seized all documents pertaining to the case in 2009 and Raja had already been interrogated at the agency’s headquarters several times in the past.
“This arrest by the CBI has only been done to justify its presence and to please the media,” Gupta said. Earlier, the CBI argued that it was because of Raja that at least two telecom firms — Swan Telecom and Unitech — benefitted to the tune of several hundred crores by selling their stakes to global firms shortly after getting the licences.
