Confront Chidambaram with advice given in PM's presence: Raja

‘Call him to court and ask him whether this meeting took place or not'

The former Telecom Minister, A. Raja, on Monday made a fresh demand before a special court here for summoning the former Finance Minister and now Home Minister, P. Chidambaram, as a witness in the 2G spectrum allocation case.

Senior advocate Sushil Kumar said Mr. Chidambaram's statement should be recorded as he had given advice on dilution of shares in the presence of the Prime Minister.

“Call Mr. Chidambaram here and ask him whether this meeting took place or not in the presence of the Prime Minister and whether you [Mr. Chidambaram] gave this advice or not. Call him and confront him with the minutes of the meeting.”

The court should use its power under Section 311 of the Cr.PC to summon and examine Mr. Chidambaram as a witness. “I am not calling him [Mr. Chidambaram] an accused. [But] the CBI should have recorded his statement earlier,” counsel said.

On the alleged loss incurred by the exchequer, he said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the present Telecom Minister, Kapil Sibal, had said in Parliament that there was no loss.

Pointing out that the prosecution case stood on two pillars — the need to auction spectrum, and the favour shown to various companies which they then monetised by diluting shares — Mr. Kumar said it was Mr. Raja who first raised the need for a lock-in period to ensure that new licensees did not sell licences.

Counsel said his client was facing trial not just in the special court but also in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court‘s comments had ensured that “people will not swallow easily” the defence contention that the accused were innocent.