2G: Court allows Raja's plea, asks CBI to submit CVC's report

Former Telecom Minister A Raja's plea was today allowed by a Delhi court which directed the CBI to produce before it the inquiry report of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in connection with the 2G spectrum allocation scam.
The order came on an application filed by Raja in which he had said that in 2009, an inquiry was conducted by the CVC into the allegations of allotment of 2G spectrum by Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and on October 12, 2009, CVC had forwarded its direct inquiry report to the CBI.
Special CBI Judge O P Saini, in his order, said the agency had argued that CVC's communication cannot be disclosed and had not filed any response on Raja's plea.

"CBI has admitted that the aforesaid communication and direct inquiry report (of the CVC) is in its custody. However, its case is that the communication was sent in official confidence and as such cannot be disclosed.
"However, the CBI has chosen not to even file a reply to the application despite the opportunity given to it, what to talk of claiming privilege," the court said.
It also observed that CBI had not said disclosure of the CVC's communication would make public interests suffer.

"Accordingly, I find no merit in the submission of the CBI. The prayer is allowed. The aforesaid communication of the CVC along with its direct inquiry report be produced in court and the accused/applicant A Raja would be at liberty to take a copy of it," the judge said.

Raja had said in his plea that CVC had asked the CBI to take "necessary action in the matter" and CVC's October 12, 2009 communication and direct inquiry report are in "custody of CBI and have a material bearing on this case and are relevant for the cross-examination of the investigating officers in this matter".
Raja, along with others, including DMK MP Kanimozhi is facing trial in the case.