2G scam: Raja Wants to Argue in Person in Apex Court

Thursday, 06 October 2011, 16:27 IST   |    2 Comments
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New Delhi: Jailed former communications minister A. Raja, prime accused in the 2G spectrum case, Wednesday moved an application before a special court here seeking permission to argue in person in the Supreme Court Oct 10. In his petition, Raja, who is currently in Tihar Jail, said "there are many facts that lawyers do not know and I would be in a better position to make my point clear before the apex court". Raja said he wanted to argue on the question of the Supreme Court-monitored probe into the 2G scam. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge O.P. Saini has fixed Friday for hearing Raja's application seeking permission to appear in the apex court, said Raja's counsel Manu Sharma. Raja's counsel said the apex court Oct 10 is likely to pass an order on Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy's application in the 2G spectrum pricing. Swamy is seeking a CBI probe against Home Minister P. Chidambaram. Swamy claims that Chidambaram as the then finance minister was also involved in fixing the 2G spectrum price. "Raja in his application sought the court's permission to appear before the apex court as he wants to clarify the issue that Chidambaram signed all documents related to spectrum allocation. So, he asked the special court to call Chidambaram as a witness in the case," said Sharma. "Chidambaram was party to all decisions. I'm not calling him as an accused. He was acquainted with all facts and circumstances of the case. My job will be done by calling Chidambaram as a court witness. Let the court decide if it wants to call the prime minister," Raja earlier told the special court. Raja has repeatedly argued in court that the decisions he took were sanctioned by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chidambaram. Raja's lawyer Sushil Kumar earlier refused to file a reply in court on the charges of criminal breach of public trust slapped on him by the CBI. He wanted the investigation agency to state on record if the probe against Raja had been completed or not. Criminal breach of public trust is a non-bailable offence with punishment that stretches from 10 years to life. Raja also pleaded for a separate trial for charges related to criminal breach of trust. Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and executives of several telecom companies have been arrested by the CBI in connection with the 2G scam.
Source: IANS