CBI opposes bail for Raja, says two more charges being probed

The CBI on Friday objected to the former Telecom Minister, A. Raja's bail application and told a special CBI court here that two allegations of quid pro quo in the 2G spectrum case were still being probed.

CBI senior public prosecutor A.K. Singh said investigation was progressing into a transaction of Rs.200 crore, which could be the bribe money involving Mr. Raja and other public servants. He reminded Special Judge O. P. Saini of a letter rogatory issued by him into allegations of bribe money routed through the Mauritius-based Delphi Investment.

“This court had issued the letter rogatory for a suspected bribe amount from Reliance [RTL] people through Delphi. This accused [Raja] and other public servants are also involved in another tranche of Rs.200 crore, which they have received as bribe and this was not known earlier and has come up during the investigation,” Mr. Singh said. Mr. Saini reserved his order on Mr. Raja's bail plea to May 15.

Mr. Raja's counsel, senior advocate Ramesh Gupta, said his client should also be granted bail now as all the other accused in the case had been extended the benefit. The Supreme Court had granted bail to the former Telecom Secretary, Siddhartha Behura, and that both Mr. Raja and Mr. Behura were facing the same charges of criminal breach of trust by public servant, abetment and conspiracy.

He said Mr. Raja was not in a position to influence witnesses as he was no longer a minister. Mr. Gupta said Mr. Raja had spent the longest period in judicial custody and was the “most cooperative” [in the investigation] among all the accused in the case.

However, Mr. Singh rejected Mr. Raja's claim for parity with the other accused, including Mr. Behura, stating that there was no allegation of accepting bribe against Mr. Behura.

Further, Mr. Singh pointed out, many of the witnesses in the case hailed from Tamil Nadu and that Mr. Raja would be in a position to influence them, if granted bail.

Reserves order

Meanwhile, the court reserved its order on framing of charges against Essar Group promoters Ravi and Anshuman Ruia; and Loop Telecom promoters Kiran and I. P. Khaitan for May 25.