Reliance executives feel 2G trial heat

However, even before the trial could begin, prime accused Raja refused to cross examine the witnesses until the CBI declared that the investigation in the case was over. The former telecom minister had moved an application in this regard which was rejected by Special CBI Judge O P Saini.

The court on Friday recorded the statement of Anand Subramanium, Assistant Vice President, Reliance Capital Ltd followed by A N Sethuraman, Group President, Reliance. While Subramanium’s statement was recorded and discharged, Sethuraman’s statement was partly recorded and has been deferred till Monday when trial commences. The court had also summoned third prosecution witness V K Budhiraja, Chief Regulatory Officer, Etisalat DB Telecom Pvt Ltd for disposition.
Earlier in the day, before the trial could commence, Raja filed an application before the court that he would not cross-examine the witnesses unless the CBI declared that the investigation in the case was over. Raja’s counsel Sushil Kumar told the court that CBI had submitted before the Supreme Court that the investigation with regard to Loop Telecom, which was granted 2G spectrum licence as well, was still on. “Loop Telecom is under examination. This is good enough reason. You can defer (trial) it. Why does the CBI not make a statement whether the investigation is completed or not?” asked Kumar adding that as soon as the investigation in this case, which started on October 21, 2009, is complete and all the statements as mandated in Section 244 of the CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code) are supplied to the applicant (Raja), the right to recall the witnesses for cross examination will be exercised. However, Judge Saini dismissed the application and ordered beginning of disposition of witnesses.

When disposition of Subramanium was on, Judge Saini asked Raja once again whether he wants to cross examine the witness. “Mr Raja, Would you like to cross examine this witness or you stand by your advocate,” asked Judge Saini to which Raja only replied that he “stands by his advocate”.

Last month, the CBI had submitted names of 28 people to be examined as prosecution witnesses before the court this month. Subramanium was the first to depose, followed by Sethuraman who told the court about their respective official duties in their companies and that they recognised the signature of three ADA Group employees- Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair- accused in the case, on various papers presented by the CBI before the court.

Former bureaucrats support CAG
New Delhi, pti: A group of former bureaucrats on Friday not only supported the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on the presumptive loss figure in the 2G spectrum allocation but also accused politicians of undermining the institution. In a meeting, 20 former senior bureaucrats passed a resolution supporting the CAG and regretted that Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, which has to enforce the accountability of the Executive to Parliament, seems to be in “disarray” with members of both ruling and opposition parties being at loggerheads.