Special judge O P Saini has dismissed Janata Party President Subramaian Swamy's plea to make Home Minister P Chidambaram co-accused in the 2G scam.
In response to the verdict by the Patiala House trial court, Swamy has said that he move the High court, and if need be, the Supreme Court and present more evidence to bring the guilty to book. However, he has also said that he will say more only after going through the 65-page order passed by the court today.
Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal, in reaction to the order, said that he was not surprised by the order as there was no evidence against Chidambaram. He also said that the Opposition should reflect upon this order.
However, the BJP has retaliated by saying that the Supreme Court has already passed a verdict against the verdict against the governemnt in the 2G case and that the trial court's order does not take away the culpability of the UPA. It added that it will continue to boycott Chidambaram as Home Minister.
The CBI, which was investigating the case has said that it was transparent in its operations and always maintained that Chidambaram was not guilty in the 2G case.
Chidambaram is due to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh shortly.
More From This Section
The Patiala House trial court today announced verdict on Home Minister P Chidambaram on charges of being a co-accused in the 2G licence allocation helping then Telecom minister A Raja to give away licences at drop away prices.
The verdict was delivered on camera.
Television channels said hundreds including media persons had gathered outside the court in anticipation of the verdict against the Home Minister.
At 10 am, Special CBI Judge allowed only Swamy to enter inside the court room and conveyed to him to come before 12:30 pm.
"I have been asked to be present in the court before 12:30 pm. I can say that I am confident that the judgement will be delivered today," Swamy told reporters coming out of the court.
Court staff also said that the judge would deliver the verdict around 12:30 pm, but the judgment was announced only around 1:40 pm.
Swamy had moved the court seeking to make Chidambaram as co-accused in the 2G spectrum scam alleging he was as culpable as former Telecom minister A Raja in determining the prices of scarce spectrum and in allowing the dilution of shares.
Swamy said that Chidambaram had allowed Raja to 'gift away' the licences.