Respond on CBI's plea: S K Jain told by court

The accused have been asked to reply on September 10

A Delhi court on Friday sought response of Syndicate Bank Chairman & Managing Director Sudhir Kumar Jain, CMD of Prakash Industries Ltd Ved Prakash Agarwal and another accused, arrested in a bribery case, on CBI's plea seeking to record their specimen voice for its ongoing investigation.

Special CBI judge Swarana Kanta Sharma directed Jain, Agarwal and co-accused Vineet Godha to reply on September 10, when the court will also hear the arguments on CBI's plea.

The court also said that investigating officer (IO) has not filed the status report, as directed by it, and asked the CBI to place it on record on the next date of hearing.

The court was told by the IO that CFSL report was still awaited and it was expected to be received in next three-four days after which they will file the status report before it.

"They (CBI) are directed to positively file the status report on the next date of hearing i.e. on September 10," the judge said.

CBI, in its application, said that the case was based on intercepted telephonic conversations and specimen voice sample of these three accused was required for its probe.

These accused, along with others, including Bhushan Steel Ltd Vice Chairman and Managing Director Neeraj Singal, are now in judicial custody till September 11.

They were arrested in connection with two separate graft cases in which CBI had booked them under the Prevention of Corruption Act and for the charge of criminal conspiracy under the IPC.

On August 2, CBI had arrested six accused in connection with the case and claimed to have recovered Rs 21 lakh in cash from Jain's residence besides gold worth Rs 1.68 crore and documents of fixed deposits of up to Rs 63 lakh.

The agency has filed two cases against Jain, accusing him of receiving a bribe of Rs 50 lakh through conduits and abusing his official position to enhance the credit limits of some companies in violation of laid-down procedures.