Business Standard

2G case: Shahid Balwa says CBI's case is contradictory

Image

Press Trust of India New Delhi
Swan Telecom Promoter Shahid Balwa, facing trial along with former Telecom Minister A Raja and 15 others in the 2G spectrum allocation scam case, today told a special court that prosecution's case was contradictory and there was nothing to prove conspiracy charge against him.

While advancing final arguments, Balwa's counsel told Special Judge O P Saini that CBI did not properly examine the witnesses in the case.

"The prosecution case is contradictory and there is nothing to prove the charges of conspiracy and cheating against me...The prosecution did not examine the witnesses properly and a number of documents are missing from record," advocate Vijay Aggarwal, appearing for Balwa, said.
 

Earlier, Balwa had told the court that there was shift in stand of CBI in the case and it only played to the gallery.

He had also said that he was prosecuted wrongly and the main charge sheet, filed by CBI, has gone for a toss.

He had also told the court that there were several contradictions in prosecution's story which defy the existence of conspiracy and the CBI has made those persons accused in the case who have not toed its line.

Besides Raja and Balwa, DMK MP Kanimozhi, former Telecom Secretary Siddharth Behura, Raja's erstwhile private secretary R K Chandolia, Unitech Ltd Managing Director Sanjay Chandra, STPL promoter Vinod Goenka and three executives of Reliance ADAG - Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair - are facing trial in the case.

Directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal, Kalaignar TV Director Sharad Kumar and Bollywood producer Karim Morani are also facing trial in the case, besides three telecom companies -- Reliance Telecom Ltd, STPL and Unitech Wireless (Tamil Nadu) Ltd.

In its charge sheet, CBI had alleged a loss of Rs 30,984 crore to the exchequer in allocation of 122 licences for 2G spectrum, which was scrapped by the Supreme Court on February 2, 2012.

All these accused, who are out on bail, have denied the allegations levelled against them by CBI.

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: May 12 2016 | 5:22 PM IST

Explore News