2G case: accused seeks time to answer questions given by court

A private firm executive facing trial in the 2G spectrum allocation case today moved a special court seeking "sufficient time" to answer the questions being asked from the accused by the court and pleaded that "relevant questions" should be put forth.
Accused Asif Balwa, Director of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd, moved an application before Special CBI Judge O P Saini who posted the plea for hearing on April 17.
"....It is prayed that this court may be pleased to pass necessary orders and directions in the matter, thereby putting simpler and relevant questions to relevant accused persons after taking into consideration the points mentioned in the present application, as in the absence of the same, grave prejudice shall be caused to the accused persons...," Balwa said.

In the application, filed through advocate Vijay Aggarwal, Balwa pleaded with the court to "pass further orders to provide sufficient time to the accused persons to properly and effectively answer and explain the circumstances, in the right perspective, as the same shall be in the interest of justice."
The move came after the court had on March 27 given a "draft questionnaire" running into 824 pages to 17 accused, including former Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and other top corporate honchos, and had fixed the matter for recording of their statements on April 21.
The court had supplied the draft questionnaire, containing 1,718 questions to the advocates representing the 17 accused.

Balwa, in his petition, also requested the court to "pass necessary orders and directions thereby providing sufficient time to the accused persons to properly and effectively answer and explain the circumstances in the right perspective."
He said the accused have been given only 24 days to come prepared with the answers to the questions.
The court, which had in November last year concluded the recording of prosecution evidence in the case, would start the recording of statements of the accused from April 21.