Essar-Loop case: Court to hear final arguments from January 16

A special court today said that it would hear from January 16 next year the final arguments in a case arising out of the probe into the 2G spectrum allocation scam allegedly involving promoters of Essar Group, Loop Telecom and others.
Special CBI Judge O P Saini, who was scheduled to hear the final arguments from today, posted the matter for January 16.
The court had on September 15 concluded recording of defence evidence in a case in which Essar Group promoters Ravi Ruia and Anshuman Ruia, Loop Telecom promoters Kiran Khaitan, her husband I P Khaitan and Essar Group Director (Strategy and Planning) Vikash Saraf are facing trial. They all are out on bail.

Besides them, three telecom firms -- Loop Telecom Ltd, Loop Mobile India Ltd and Essar Tele Holding Ltd -- are also facing trial in the case. All of them have denied the charges levelled by CBI.
On May 25, 2012, the court had framed charges against all the accused under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with section 420 (cheating) of IPC, while the charge of cheating was made out against Saraf only.
During the recording of prosecution evidence in the case, which had commenced on July 26, 2012, the court had recorded statements of 95 CBI witnesses, running into 1,056 pages, while the accused examined 12 witnesses in their defence.

CBI had chargesheeted the accused on December 12, 2011, alleging they had cheated the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) by using Loop Telecom as a "front" to secure 2G licences in 2008.