With the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) having objected to the clubbing of his private complaint with its case in the 2G spectrum allocation scam, Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy told the special court here on Wednesday that he would rather prefer that his complaint was heard separately.
Dr. Swamy told Special Judge O.P. Saini that his case covered wider issues, including national security, and that he intended to implead Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram as an accused in his complaint.
He alleged that the CBI was putting the entire blame for the scam on the former Communications Minister, A. Raja, while the decision on the entry fee and spectrum pricing was taken jointly by the Telecom Ministry and the Finance Ministry, which Mr. Chidambaram headed then. “I would like to go ahead with my complaint separately. I will ensure that it will not clash with the CBI case. My case will be based on documents.”
On May 4, the CBI rejected Dr. Swamy's plea for being made a special public prosecutor, saying that it was “not tenable in law and not worth accepting” and that it was the Centre's prerogative under Section 24 of the Criminal Procedure Code to appoint a special public prosecutor. The agency also termed the clubbing of Dr. Swamy's complaint with the CBI case “not in the interest of justice.”
Mr. Saini has now posted the matter for August 26.
Speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, Dr. Swamy said: “I have a feeling that the CBI is trying to protect Congress Ministers.” His application seeking that Mr. Chidambaram's role be further investigated was pending before the Supreme Court.