2G case: Supreme Court to hear honchos' bail pleas

The corporate executives have alleged that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was acting in a discriminatory and arbitrary manner in the case.

Earlier Aug 9, the apex court issued notice to the CBI seeking their response.

A bench of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice H.L. Dattu will hear the agency's response on releasing Goenka and Chandra, presently in Tihar Jail as accused in the case.

Goenka, who also represents DB Realty, has sought to be treated like DMK supremo M. Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal and Chandra's brother Ajay Chandra, who have been only named as witnesses in the case.

Chandra contended all the decisions regarding the cut-off date and first-come-first-served policy for spectrum allocation were taken by the former communications minister A. Raja and Department of Telecom (DoT) officials.

Both the accused have challenged the Delhi High Court order rejecting their bail pleas, saying the investigation against them is complete and they have been cooperating with the CBI and, hence, should be granted bail.

The first set of charges filed in the case April 2 had named Raja, eight others including Goenka and Chandra and three telecom companies as co-conspirators.

The CBI accused them of cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy along with Raja.

The supplementary chargesheet filed April 25 named DMK MP Kanimozhi and four others.
The high court May 23, had rejected the bail pleas of five corporate executives -- Chandra, Goenka and three Reliance officials.

The case reached the high court April 20 after a trial court rejected their bail applications, terming their pleas as "meritless" in the face of "serious allegations" and "incriminating evidence".