Court reserves order on charges in additional spectrum case

A special court on Monday reserved its order on the issue of framing of charges in the 2002 additional spectrum allocation case.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge O.P. Saini fixed September 26 for delivering its order on the issue of framing of charges in the case after prosecution and defence counsel concluded their arguments.

"Arguments on charge are complete for both parties. Since the record of the case is voluminous and technical in nature, and the arguments for the parties also continued for more than two weeks, sufficient time is required to go through the massive record," the court said

The court has granted liberty to both parties to file written submissions, if so desired by them, within seven days.

The court also fixed September 26 for deciding bail plea of former telecom secretary Shyamal Ghosh, who is also an accused in the case.

The CBI filed a chargesheet on December 21, 2012, against former telecom secretary Ghosh and three telecom firms -- Bharti Cellular Ltd., Hutchison Max Telecom Pvt. Ltd. (Vodafone India Ltd.) and Sterling Cellular Ltd. (Vodafone Mobile Service Ltd.).

The case relates to the Department of Telecommunications allocating additional spectrum in a decision taken on January 31, 2002, when the National Democratic Alliance was in power, allegedly resulting in a loss of Rs.846 crore to the exchequer.