Officers working on Aircel-Maxis charge sheet: CBI tells court

The CBI today told a special court that its senior officials, including the chief investigating officer of the 2G spectrum case, were working on the charge sheet to be filed in connection with the Aircel-Maxis deal on the Supreme Court's directions.
Special public prosecutor U U Lalit stated this while opposing the pleas of accused, including former Telecom Minister A Raja, seeking deferment of cross-examination of all the investigating officers (IOs) in the case till conclusion of their examination-in-chief.
"Mr Vivek Priyadarshi (CBI SP) and S K Sinha (Dy SP CBI) are working on the new charge sheet (in Aircel-Maxis deal) on the Supreme Court's direction. The Supreme Court's direction is very clear," Lalit told Special CBI Judge O P Saini.

The apex court on August 1 had expressed concern over "very tardy progress in the probe of the case" allegedly involving former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran and had granted two months time to wrap up procedure for filing of the charge sheet.
It had also asked the CBI to file the final report irrespective of whether the Malaysian authorities provide details on the controversial deal or not.
During the arguments, Lalit countered the submissions of the defence counsel that Priyadarshi be cross examined first during the trial and said that he was busy working on the new charge sheet.

"It is true that Priyadarshi is the chief investigating officer (IO) in the case. At this juncture, I cannot produce Priyadarshi in the dock as he is busy working on the charge sheet. The Supreme Court's order is binding on us," he said.

One of the defence counsel, senior advocate Hariharan, told the court that recording of statements of the IOs was very crucial in the case and the "unfolding of story" should start from Priyadarshi as he was the one who was looking after the officers involved in the probe into the case.
The court, after hearing the arguments from both the sides, reserved its order for September 5.