The much-awaited trial of the high-profile 2G spectrum allocation scam case began in a Delhi court on Friday even as former communications minister A. Raja, one of the accu-sed, declined to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses, saying the CBI probe is “still incomplete”.
Just before the formal commencement of the trial in the court of special judge O.P. Saini, Mr Raja moved an application claiming that the investigation in the case was incomplete. The court, however, dismissed the plea. “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 is supplied to the applicant, the right to recall the witnesses for cross-examination will be exercised,” Mr Raja said in an application to the court. “Ask the public prosecutor whether the investigation is complete. He knows it all in and out. I cannot understand why you (judge) do not wait for the investigation to be over. Just note my status, I refuse (to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses),” senior advocate Sushil Kumar, appearing for Mr Raja, told the court.
Mr Raja’s counsel said the CBI has submitted in the SC that the investigation in relation to Loop Telecom, also granted 2G licences, is still on. “Loop Telecom is und-er examination. The SC is seized of the matter. These are grounds good enough. You can defer it (trial) simply. Why do they (CBI) not make a simple statement, whether the investigation is complete,” he asked.
The application said the date of examination of witnesses has been fixed without complying with the mandate of the proviso of the CrPC and, due to this, Mr Raja has “no option” but to defer the cross-examination.