Former Telecom Minister A. Raja’s ex-personal secretary R.K. Chandolia’s plea for interim bail on the ground the CBI lacks proper sanction to prosecute him in the 2G case was dismissed today by the Delhi court.
“Your application is dismissed,” special CBI judge O.P. Saini said, dismissing Mr. Chandolia’s plea, minutes before he opened his argument opposing corruption and various other penal charges against him in the case.
Mr. Chandolia, a key accused, was arrested on February 2, 2011, for his alleged role in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.
He was named as accused in the first charge sheet filed by the CBI.
He had sought interim bail contending that the CBI did not have the valid sanction from the competent authority under Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act to probe the case against him.
He claimed there is no sanction to prosecute him for the offences punishable under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC and had sought interim bail till the disposal of his application.
Countering his plea, the CBI had submitted that Satish Bhushan, Under-Secretary (Vigilance), Ministry of Finance, had conveyed the government’s permission as required under the DSPE Act to initiate inquiry against him in a letter dated December 7, 2010.
The CBI had contended that Raja’s former personal secretary’s plea was based upon incorrect assertions.
Followed only Raja's instructions
Earlier Mr. Chandolia claimed innocence in the 2G case before the Delhi court, saying that he merely followed the instructions of his “master”, the former Telecom Minister A. Raja.
Advancing his arguments opposing framing of charges against him, Mr. Chandolia said he was only an official to assist Mr. Raja in day-to-day work.
“A. Raja was the (Telecom) Minister and my master. I merely carried out his instructions,” advocate Vijay Agarwal, appearing for Mr. Chandolia, told Special CBI judge O.P. Saini.
“I was his (Raja’s) sophisticated helper. I am only an extra assisting hand to carry out instructions of my master. Can I question my master? How can an assisting staff be roped in by the CBI?” he asked.
He submitted he is not a person associated with the DMK, Kalaignar TV or any other telecom company.
Mr. Chandolia, who began his arguments on Friday, opposing framing of charges against him, also challenged the CBI to show a single document as evidence in which he had signed.
