The trial in the 2G spectrum scam case, in which the former Telecom Minister, A. Raja; DMK Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi; and several corporate bigwigs are arraigned as accused, is slated to begin in the CBI special court with the prosecution expected to examine three witnesses on Friday.
Special Judge O. P. Saini had ordered that the trial start on November 11 after framing charges against all 17 accused in the case on October 22.
There are 164 prosecution witnesses in the case, including some high-profile persons like Attorney-General of India G. E. Vahanvati and controversial former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia.
There are 28 persons in the first list of witnesses the CBI submitted to the court for issue of summons this month.
Testimonies of Reliance ADA Group executives, A. N. Sethuraman and Anand Subramaniam, and Etisalat DB Telecom Chief Regulatory Officer Vinod Kumar Budhiraja, are expected to be recorded on Friday.
There are 11 witnesses from the Reliance ADA Group in the first list, suggesting that the prosecution will first deal with the charges against accused firms Reliance Telecom and Swan Telecom.
Mr. Saini had said, while denying bail to Ms. Kanimozhi and seven other accused, that there was “well-founded apprehension” of witnesses being influenced or threatened, besides implying that the accused could approach his court for bail after all witnesses deposed before him.
The charges framed against the accused under the Indian Penal Code include those of criminal conspiracy to commit criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery, and faking of documents.
Charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act relate to abuse of official position, getting bribe, criminal misconduct by public servant, and abetment charges.
