Case is of national importance: CBI moves Delhi High Court to advance 2G appeal hearing

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has moved the Delhi High Court to advance the hearing in its appeal against the acquittal of A Raja and others in the 2G scam case..The High Court had earlier listed the matter for hearing on October 24..When the plea filed by the CBI was taken up today, a Single Judge Bench of Justice AK Chawla issued notice to all the respondents in CBI’s early hearing application, and listed it for hearing on July 30..“What is the extreme urgency?”, Justice Chawla asked..Standing Counsel Ripu Daman Bhardwaj responded that the case is of national importance..“It has international ramifications”, he added..The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate had moved the Delhi High Court in March 2018 against the acquittal of all accused persons in the 2G scam in December 2017..The Court had issued notice in the appeals on March 21, 2018. Since then, the case has remained dormant due to non-completion of pleadings..In a bid to impose costs on respondents who were yet to their replies in the appeals, the High Court had even called for a tree plantation drive in Delhi’s South Ridge forest area by the erring parties..As per the CBI’s charges, A Raja, who was Telecom Minister during the UPA regime, caused huge losses to the state exchequer by undercharging telecom firms for frequency licences. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India had estimated the total loss to be Rs 1.76 trillion..In December 2017, a Special CBI Court had acquitted DMK politicians A Raja, Kanimozhi and fifteen others implicated in the 2G Spectrum case..In his 1500+ page verdict, CBI judge OP Saini has held that given the lack of evidence mounted by the prosecution, he had no choice but to give a clean chit to the accused. In fact, in para 1811 of the judgment, the judge states that he had been waiting in vain for over six years to receive a shred of credible evidence..Bar & Bench is available on WhatsApp. For real-time updates on stories, Click here to subscribe to our WhatsApp.