By IANS,
New Delhi : A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court Saturday deferred till Oct 17 the hearing on the bail application of DMK MP Kanimozhi and Kalignar TV chief Sharad Kumar accused in the 2G spectrum case.
Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar’s counsel Sushil Kumar and Altaf Ahmed told CBI special judge O.P. Saini: “We want to argue on the bail application only after the court frames charges against our clients in the scam.”
The counsel cited the Supreme Court’s earlier order which said the accused can only seek bail after the charges are framed against them and their bail application will be decided by the special court hearing the 2G case, while making the submissions.
Judge Saini agreed to their plea and said the arguments on their bail applications can be heard Oct 17 as it may frame charges against the accused by that time.
“I want to complete the process of framing of charges in the case by Oct 15. Fix the bail pleas of these two (Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar) for Oct 17,” the judge said.
The Supreme Court, while dismissing their bail pleas June 20, had said that such applications could be taken up only after charges are framed in the case.
The special CBI court also deferred the arguments on the bail pleas of five other accused by Monday.
The court will Monday hear arguments on bail pleas of Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Balwa, Cineyug Films director Karim Morani, Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal, both directors of Kusegaon Fruits & Vegetables Pvt Ltd, and R.K. Chandolia, ex-personal secretary to former communications minister A. Raja, in the case.
The CBI, however, Friday opposed the bail pleas of the seven accused in the case on the ground that according to the Supreme Court order, their bail pleas could be entertained only after the framing of charges.
Kanimozhi is lodged in Tihar Jail since May 20 for her alleged role in the 2G scam. She had moved court for bail along with Sharad Kumar for the second time Sep 16.
Opposing the plea of Kanimozhi, the agency in its reply said she was the “active brain” behind the operations of Kalaignar TV in which she also held 20 percent stake.
Initially, she was also a director of the channel and had a role in “re-appointment” of Raja as communications minister.
“Kanimozhi was a stakeholder of Kalaignar TV Pvt Ltd to the tune of 20 percent equity and was an active brain behind its operations. She was also widely covered by Kalaignar Seithigal (News) Channel,” the CBI said in its reply.
The CBI, which also opposed the plea of six others, said the court might take an appropriate view according to law.
The agency said: “As regards the submission of the accused Morani in term of health condition the court may take an appropriate view as per law.”
The court was to pronounce its order on the framing of charges against all the 17 accused Sep 15, but till date it has not yet been done.
Raja, the prime accused in the 2G spectrum case, too contended Friday in a special court here that he would participate in the trial only when the CBI clearly explains whether it has completed its investigation against him.
“Till the agency declares that the investigation is closed, I will not argue before this court. I will participate in this trial only once the probe is over,” said Raja’s counsel.
The court has given time till Oct 7 to all the 17 accused to reply to the additional charge.