Special Judge O. P. Saini on Wednesday agreed with the CBI submission that there was apprehension of the five corporate bigwigs, accused in the 2G spectrum case, tampering with evidence, winning over witnesses and fleeing from justice.
These fears “cannot be dismissed as too far-fetched at this stage in the light of the serious nature of the case ... In my considered opinion, it is not a fit case for bail,” the judge said dismissing the regular bail applications of Unitech managing director Sanjay Chandra, DB Realty managing director Vinod Goenka, Reliance ADA Group managing director Gautam Doshi, Group president Surendra Pipara and senior vice-president Hari Nair.
The five honchos have now joined the former Union Telecom Minister A. Raja and five other accused in the Tihar Central Jail.
To Mr. Pipara's submission that he was not keeping good health, Special Public Prosecutor U.U. Lalit said he had no objection to the ADA Group president being granted bail. But Mr. Saini noted: “His condition is not stated to be as bad as to deserve any special consideration at this stage.”
Mr. Raja, who was also present in the courtroom, was seen comforting the corporate bigwigs and consoling their families. A warm hug to real estate tycoon Sanjay Chandra was followed by comforting words to Mr. Vinod Goenka's wife. “I am a politician. I did not know this day would come. I am sorry for you. You are a strong lady,” Mr. Raja said, holding her hand.
Small court
The small size of the courtroom designated to house the Special Court hearing the 2G spectrum scam came in for scathing criticism from advocates representing the accused.
High-profile Mumbai-based lawyer Majid Memon, who appeared at the court on Wednesday for the first time representing Vinod Goenka, said he was appalled to see that “this shabby and congested” room would be hearing “an all-important case on which the whole country's attention was tuned into.”
Senior advocate Ramesh Gupta complained to Special Judge O. P. Saini that journalists were obstructing him from proceeding to the Bench. To this, a normally affable Mr. Saini made a stern request to reporters to create more space for lawyers.
Sultry surroundings
Proceedings in the court are being held in sultry surroundings with the lawyers representing the nine accused in the case jostling for space with the national media besides family members of the accused.
