2G case: Court imposes fine of Rs 250 on defence counsel

Special CBI Judge O P Saini imposed the cost on advocate Vijay Aggarwal, the counsel for accused Rajiv Agarwal and Asif Balwa, both directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd, after he objected to CBI Prosecutor A K Singh showing some documents to a prosecution witness S Meenakshi, a deputy registrar of companies (ROC) at Chennai.

Aggarwal raised objection when Singh showed the witness some documents, including copies of audit reports, balance sheet and others documents of Kalaignar TV (P) Limited for year ending on March 31, 2008. The TV channle's director Sharad Kumar too is facing trial in the case.

The defence counsel objected to it saying the documents shown to the witness were photocopies and there is no certificate attached with it under the provisions of the Evidence Act and also that it is not authenticated in terms of the provisions of the Companies Act.

The prosecutor countered Aggarwal's objection saying the documents belonged to Kalaignar TV (P) Limited and no objection has been raised regarding this by the concerned accused -- Kumar and DMK MP Kanimozhi.

The court imposed the fine on Aggarwal saying "In this case, not only the documents have been certified but the officer of ROC herself is present in the court to authenticate and prove the documents. The objection has been taken just to delay the trial and is overruled with cost of Rs 250." (More)