Beneficiaries should be brought to book, says SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the central government to set up a special court exclusively to try cases relating to the 2G telecom spectrum allocation scam. The court asked Attorney General G E Vahanvati to get the government’s response within two weeks. Meanwhile, no other court in the country shall deal with cases connected to the allocation of spectrum.

The court also asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) what it proposed to do with beneficiaries of the alleged irregularities in the distribution of telecom licences. It shall respond to this query within four weeks.

The bench of Judges G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly observed that everyone involved, especially the beneficiaries, should be brought to book. “There are many who feel they are above the law; the law must catch them expeditiously,” the judges remarked, while hearing the petition seeking court action in the Rs 1.76 lakh crore scam. Merely their being in the list of Forbes or being millionaires should not make difference, they observed. The judges said the CBI must have a free hand to question anyone. “It appears their freedom is being curtailed, as it is seeking short remand of the accused,” they observed.

CBI told the court it would file its charge sheet by March 31. Former communications minister A Raja is among the accused. The accused persons are alleged to have committed cheating and forgery and several other offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The minister is accused of colluding with telecom companies and distributing spectrum to certain favoured companies.

The Supreme Court has been monitoring the CBI’s investigation while dealing with the petition moved by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation. Raja had to resign in November under pressure from the judiciary.

During the hearing, CBI accused the Kalaignar TV officials of lack of cooperation in the investigations. The investigation has reportedly established the money trail to Kalaignar TV.

Following earlier directions, CBI and the Enforcement Directorate have placed before the court the status report about their progress in the investigation.