2G scam: Court imposes Rs 1 lakh penalty on Shahid Balwa

A special court today imposed a penalty of Rs one lakh on Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, who had sought permission to withdraw answers given by him earlier to the court in the 2G scam case trial, while allowing his plea to record afresh his statement before it.

Special CBI Judge O P Saini, however, did not allow the contention of CBI to cancel bail of Balwa, an accused in the 2G case.

The court passed the order on Balwa's plea seeking permission to withdraw his answers given earlier during his deposition.

CBI had argued in court that Balwa's plea was nothing but a "sinister design" to take the court for a "ride".

During the arguments, Special Public Prosecutor U U Lalit had submitted that Balwa's earlier contention that he had failed to understand the questions asked by the court under the provisions of CrPC was not an "inadvertent error" and it was a "smart and calculated" move.

He had also contended that it was a "breach of faith" reposed by the court on the accused and he must be fair to the court.

Balwa's counsel, however, had submitted that it was only an inadvertent error and that nothing had been done deliberately.

On CBI's contentions that bail granted earlier to Balwa may be cancelled, his lawyer had said it was not the case that his client has tampered with evidence or threatened any witness.

The counsel had also said that if the court feels that something wrong has been done, he was offering unconditional apology.

CBI had earlier sought cancellation of the bail granted to Balwa, facing trial in the 2G case, saying his conduct requires reconsideration and recall of the relief given to him.

Balwa had faced the court's ire when it observed that he "deserved" to be taken into custody for his misconduct.

He had filed a plea contending that he will "not raise any question of prejudice caused to him on grounds of non- understanding of any question asked by the court.