2G case: Goenka exempted from personal appearance for a week

DB Realty MD Vinod Kumar Goenka, facing trial in 2G spectrum allocation case, has been exempted by a Delhi court from appearing before it for a week to take care of his business in Mumbai.

Special CBI Judge O P Saini exempted Goenka from personal appearance for a week, brushing aside his plea for permanent exemption.

Goenka had sought permanent exemption from personal appearance saying his real estate business is suffering in his absence.

As the court expressed its unwillingness to allow him permanent exemption from personal appearance, he withdrew his application and made a fresh request for one week's exemption on the same ground.

The court allowed Goenka's plea and gave him exemption till July 25 after CBI Special Public Prosecutor U U Lalit did not object to it.

At the onset of the day's proceedings, senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for Goenka, submitted that his client's business and family, including his ailing father, are in Mumbai.

He said his client needs to go there to take care of his family and rejuvenate his business as all his projects are being delayed.

Rohatgi added that Goneka's business is being managed by three others - Shahid Usman Balwa, Rajiv Aggarwal and Shahid Balwa, all of whom are accused in the case and are here in the court and there was none else to manage it.

Rohatgi said one of the four should be given permanent exemption from appearing in the court to manage the business.

CBI prosecutor Lalit, however, said he was opposed to Goenka's plea for permanent exemption but did not object to his exemption for a week.

He said let Goenka come to court for the hearing once in a week and he can move exemption application for the following week, which was also agreed by the accused and the court.

Goenka is facing trial along with 16 others for their alleged roles in the 2G case and are out on bail.

They have been charge-sheeted by the CBI for committing various offences under the Indian Penal Code, including those of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust by public servant, forgery and fabrication of evidences. They are also facing trial under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

In its first charge sheet, the CBI had alleged that bribe of Rs 200 crore had been channelised from Balwa's DB Realty to DMK-run Kalaignar TV through a "circuitous route" via Cineyug Films and Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd for grant of licence to Swan Telecom.