SC declines to cancel Sanjay Chandra's bail

The Supreme Court Monday declined a CBI plea to cancel the bail of Unitech managing director Sanjay Chandra, an accused in the 2G scam who was said to be in touch with A.K. Singh, the public prosecutor in the case.

The bench of Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice S.A. Bobde declined to recall its Nov 23, 2011, order granting Chandra bail.

The court declined the plea by the Central Bureau of Investigation for cancelling Chandra's bail, noting that the recording of evidence by the prosecution with respect to him was over.

The court appeared unimpressed as counsel U.U. Lalit, appearing for the CBI, submitted that it was more about the principle of the matter than what actually transpired in the alleged conversation between Chandra and the public prosecutor.

If someone has a private conversation, it was another matter, but it stands on a higher pedestal when the conversation is with the public prosecutor involved in the case, counsel said.

The apex court Aug 2, 2013, issued notice to Unitech Ltd. managing director Sanjay Chandra on the investigating agency's plea that his bail be cancelled for allegedly influencing public prosecutor A.K. Singh in the 2G case.

The apex court Nov 23, 2011, granted bail to Chandra, who was arrested for his alleged involvement in irregularities in securing a 2G licence.

The CBI plea seeking the recall of the apex court's Nov 23, 2011, grant of bail to Chandra was rooted in an expose following a sting operation recording the audio of face to face conversation that public prosecutor Singh had with Chandra, wherein they allegedly discussed the legal strategy to help the latter in the case.