Raja Gets Bail, Can't Visit DoT or Tamil Nadu


New Delhi, May 15 (IANS): Former communications minister A. Raja, who has been in jail since February 2011, was Tuesday granted bail in the 2G spectrum allocation case but with the rider that he could neither visit the department of telecommunications (DoT) nor his home state Tamil Nadu.

Raja, the last of the 14 individuals charged in the case still in prison, was given bail by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special judge O.P. Saini.

"Considering the progress of the trial, period of custody of the accused and the fact that all other accused have been released on bail, I am of the opinion that further detention of the accused would not serve any purpose and, for these reasons, I am inclined to grant applicant (Raja) bail," the judge said.

He also directed that Raja could not visit the department of telecommunications or Tamil Nadu without the court's prior permission.

The announcement that Raja, who has been behind bars in the capital's Tihar Jail, was granted bail triggered wild slogan shouting and cheering by his DMK supporters, mainly from Tamil Nadu, who raised slogans in Tamil like: "Raja, vazhga!" (long live Raja!)

The DMK also expressed confidence that he would come out clean. Besides the 14 individuals, three companies were also charged in the case related to 2G spectrum licences allocated during his tenure as communications minister.

"We are happy. Getting bail is part of the legal process. We are confident that Raja will come out clean in the whole episode," DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan told IANS.

Giving details of what had transpired, Raja's counsel told reporters that the judge called Raja towards him and told him: "Your bail application is allowed."

"Raja had not moved bail until all other 13 were granted bail," he added. "Now all the accused are on bail. The case will go on."

The counsel pointed out that Raja had got bail despite the CBI's opposition.

The CBI had opposed Raja's bail application, saying he faced charges of accepting bribes of Rs.200 crore, which makes his case different from former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura, who was granted bail by the Supreme Court last week.

Raja, in his bail application, has requested the court to release him on the ground of parity.

The agency said that important prosecution witnesses of department of telecommunications and other private people, especially connected to alleged bribe transaction of Rs.200 crore from DB Group companies to Kalaignar TV, are yet to be examined.

It told the court that if the accused was released on bail at this crucial stage of trial, then he may influence the vital witnesses as some of them belong to Tamil Nadu.

Raja resigned as minister Nov 14, 2010 in the wake of the Comptroller and Auditor General reporting that his 2008 decision to allocate 2G spectrum on a first-come-first-served basis had caused the exchequer a presumptive loss of Rs.1.76 lakh crore. The CBI arrested him Feb 2, 2011.

The Supreme Court in February cancelled 122 spectrum licences allocated during Raja's tenure. It also ruled that all natural resources should be allocated through an auction, which the government is now preparing to do in the case of the cancelled licences.

  

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Comment on this article

  • R.Bhandarkar., M

    Tue, May 15 2012

    A.RAJA
    A walking 'cupboard'with live'skeletons'rattling against each other in an effort to 'stay back' and not fall out first! Ramsay Brothers and RG Verma, script ready karo bhai! 'Khooni Cupboard' (Mera Title-Le Lo)

    DisAgree [2] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • raju, magalore/calicut

    Tue, May 15 2012

    Satish Poojari, DUBAI..
    so from which source DLF ipl,kkr released ?
    du u ever heard of DLF in before 2005 ?? how they beocme real estate giant n 5 year time..even reliance /tata have not reached such stage after two generatin..
    also du u know waths the share % of robot vedra saab in dlf/kkr ?

    DisAgree [2] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • shivaprakash, mangalore

    Tue, May 15 2012

    Scam of Rs. 200 crore in simple words called as 2G, an Eye Wash Enquiry to general public so many panels for enquiry, special team, lot of expenses involved After 15 Months he is out with good diet food
    Raja 2 G HAZARRRO SAAL
    Long Live Raja!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sam, Mangalore

    Tue, May 15 2012

    2G finished..... Our Indian law.... crores of Corruption but less punishment. JAN LOK PAL bill will help these kind of corrupt politicians to give maximum punishment. Where my India will reach one day with this kind of politians.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Satish Poojari, DUBAI

    Tue, May 15 2012

    1,76,000 Crore of liquidity soon to be released into the market. Woohoooo !!Dear RAJA Sir i have a project plan can you invest in this?????????

    DisAgree [3] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vishal Pujary, Mumbai

    Tue, May 15 2012

    i dont have any problem for A Raja getting bail because as per law, once the investigation is over ,you can't keep a person in jail. My bigger question is to the superme court of this country. Justice delay is justice denied. but our courts only follow this philosophy. thats why people on bail are forever on bail. look at mumbai bomb blast case. after 14 years of hard effort, the special court pronounced the judgement but most of the accused are out because SC has given them bail. SC has not started hearing on this case. thats why people like sunjay dutt are enjoying free and lavish life even after getting 6 year regiouros punishment. The whole effort is always on giving bail, not on completing the case..thats the problem with our judicial system

    DisAgree [4] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse


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