2G case: Raja, others told to reply to 1,700 questions

A special CBI court hearing the second generation (2G) spectrum case Thursday handed over 1,700 questions running into 824 pages to the accused, including former union minister A. Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court judge O.P. Saini said the questionnaire will help expedite the case, and posted the matter for April 21.

"Considering the nature of the case, it would be in the interest of justice and also convenient to the parties if a copy of the draft questionnaire is supplied to accused in advance to facilitate answering the questions by them and to expedite the case," the court said.

Meanwhile, counsel of the accused requested the court to grant sufficient time to go through the draft. Granting the request, the court gave them time till April 21 to prepare the answers.

The questions are part of the recording of the statement of the accused.

The court had Nov 27, 2013 concluded the recording of statements of 153 people running into 4,400 pages.

Among the CBI witnesses who deposed in the court were former Raja aides, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India ex-chairman Nripendra Misra, former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia, former Reserve Bank of India governor D. Subbarao and DMK chief M. Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal.

The special court was set up last year on the direction of the Supreme Court.

According to the government auditor, Raja was biased while distributing 2G mobile airwaves and operating licenses to telecom firms, causing a loss of up to Rs.1.76 lakh crore in revenue to the treasury.

All the accused, including Raja, are out on bail.