CBI to confront Rajiv Aggarwal with Cineyug directors

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday told a special court hearing the 2G spectrum scam case that Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables co-owner Rajiv Aggarwal had to be confronted with the directors on the board of Cineyug Films, who the agency will question for the first time in the coming days, to unravel the details of the monetary transactions made to Kalaignar TV.

The investigating agency in its plea seeking extension of its custody of Mr. Aggarwal for two more days told Special Judge O. P. Saini that based on an agreement dated December 19, 2008, a total amount of Rs.200 crore was transferred to Kalaignar TV from DB Realty from December 2008 to August 2009.

This was just before the FIR in the case was registered on October 21, 2009, the CBI said.

Document accessed

Senior Public Prosecutor (CBI) Akhilesh said the agency was yet to retrieve the original document of this agreement but had accessed another agreement dated January 27, 2010, which Cineyug Films and Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables entered into subsequently to “justify” the monetary transactions with Kalaignar TV in 2008-09.

Mr. Akhilesh added that the interrogation of Mr. Aggarwal over the “heavy cash” payment made by DB Realty to Green House Promoters, of which Sadiq Batcha was the Managing Director, had not been completed.

Counsel's submission

Mr. Aggarwal's counsel Vijay Aggarwal opposed the CBI's prayer for further custody and said his client had joined the interrogation much earlier and the agency knew very well the persons he had to be confronted with. “Why didn't the agency confront my client with these people before his arrest?” the counsel asked.

Mr. Vijay Aggarwal also asked the agency to reply why no details of quid pro quo connected to Unitech's Sanjay Chandra has been revealed by the CBI in its charge sheet filed on Saturday, despite indicting Mr. Chandra in the scam.

Wide ramifications

Mr. Akhilesh responded that what was filed was the first charge sheet in the case; that investigation was still not complete; and this was a “big case” with wide ramifications.

“Step by step, we are coming out with new facts,” Mr. Akhilesh said. “All matters related to the investigation cannot be attended to simultaneously.”

Mr. Saini in his order remanded Mr. Rajiv Aggarwal to CBI custody until April 6.