2G Scam: Court notice to accused on CBI plea

A court here Wednesday issued notices to former telecom minister A. Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and other accused in the 2G spectrum allocation case, on a CBI plea seeking permission to examine some more people as prosecution witnesses.

Special CBI Judge O.P. Saini asked 17 accused facing trial in the case to file reply to the CBI plea by Sep 23.

The court was hearing CBI's plea seeking court's directions to summon Enforcement Directorate (ED) Deputy Director Rajeshwar Singh and others as prosecution witnesses.

The investigating agency told the court that some fresh facts had emerged in the probe conducted by the ED which had filed a separate chargesheet against 19 accused in a money laundering case related to the 2G scam.

Meanwhile, the court dismissed the plea of Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa and Bollywood producer Karim Morani to go abroad.

According to the CBI, Raja was biased in distributing 2G mobile airwaves and operating licences to telecom firms, causing a huge loss to the state exchequer.

The court framed charges Oct 22, 2011, against 14 accused and three companies under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The court Wednesday fixed Nov 10 for hearing the final arguments in the 2G spectrum allocation case.

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