HC notice to CBI on Raja' s plea against charge-framing order

Justice A K Pathak issued notice to the CBI and sought its reply by September 6, the date slated for hearing of similar pleas of other accused persons.

Raja, who was arrested in February 2011 and spent 15 months in prison before getting bail in May, contended in his petition that the CBI investigations was biased and also the special CBI judge, hearing the case, has erred in holding that there was illegality in the manner spectrum was allocated.

Raja, a DMK MP, also alleged that the charge sheet filed in the case shows a bias in the investigations as it remained silent on the licenses issued during 2003-2007.

"During the period 2003-2007, a total of 51 licenses were issued by the DoT (Department of Telecommunication). These were issued on the same terms and conditions as those issued by the DoT under the petitioner in the year 2008.

"Yet the charge sheet has chosen to remain silent on this aspect, which shows the bias in its investigation. The special judge has also ignored this aspect altogether, which is a grave error," Raja said in his petition.

He further contended that the CBI special judge has failed to appreciate that his decisions as telecom minister on the issues relating to allotment and pricing of 2G spectrum were fully in conformity with the department's consistent policy.

Raja claimed the successive governments have chosen to allocate telecom licences and spectrum on a basis other than revenue maximisation. (More)