2G case: Raja, Kanimozhi seek time to reply to CBI's plea

Former Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and 15 other accused facing trial in the 2G spectrum allocation case, today sought time in a Delhi court to respond to CBI's plea for summoning some additional witnesses, including Enforcement Directorate Deputy Director Rajeshwar Singh, in the matter.
Special CBI Judge O P Saini allowed the oral submissions of the accused and fixed the matter for October 9 for filing of replies of the accused.
During the hearing, counsel for the accused sought the court's direction to CBI to supply them the copies of documents on the basis of which the agency was seeking summoning of additional prosecution witnesses in the case.

The court had earlier issued notices to all the accused seeking their replies on CBI's application after the agency had placed some new facts before the court.
The court had said it would hear the submissions of the accused before deciding on CBI's plea.
CBI had moved the application seeking the court's permission to summon some prosecution witnesses and to place additional documents on record saying they were necessary to arrive at the truth.

Besides Rajeshwar Singh, CBI has sought permission to call ED's Assistant Director Satyendra Singh, Under Secretary of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Navil Kapur and bank official D Mani.

Apart from these four persons, the agency has sought to recall General Manager (Finance) of Kalaignar TV (P) Ltd G Rajendran, who had earlier deposed as a witness in the case, for further examination.
In its plea, CBI has said these persons were required to be examined as witnesses as some new facts have emerged in the investigation conducted by ED which recently filed a separate charge sheet against 19 accused in a 2G scam-related money laundering case.