CBI should not make irresponsible statement: Shahid Balwa

Balwa appeared before the court today after the CBI alleged that he was travelling abroad without prior permission

Swan Telecom Promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, facing trial in the 2G spectrum case, today told a Delhi court that CBI should not make any "irresponsible statement" without verifying their facts.

Balwa appeared before the court today after CBI had yesterday alleged that they have got "information" that the Swan Telecom promoter was travelling abroad without prior permission.

CBI prosecutor K K Goel had made the statement while opposing Balwa's plea for personal exemption from appearance before the court for five days.

Balwa's counsel Vijay Aggarwal told the judge that due to such "irresponsible statement" by CBI, accused has to go through trauma and his client has never gone abroad without taking prior permission from the court.

"Sir, Shahid Balwa is here. Yesterday my colleague (CBI prosecutor) had made an irresponsible statement in the court. My request is that he (prosecutor) should not make such comments without verifying facts," Aggarwal told Special CBI Judge O P Saini.

He said that Balwa is a "public figure" and he cannot go abroad without prior permission as his passport is lying in the court.

"Please see the trauma through which I had gone due to this irresponsible statement. I have never done this. I have gone abroad only after taking prior permission from the court," he said.

During the brief submission, defence counsel Majeed Memon said that the accused and the lawyers have the highest respect for the court and it was "very irresponsible" on CBI's part to make such a statement.

"They (CBI) should verify the facts and also pull up such sources from where such information has come," he said, adding that they have received several calls yesterday about CBI's allegation against Balwa.

CBI, however, did not say anything today regarding the allegation against Balwa.