2G scam: Shahid Balwa's bail decision reserved

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A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court here on Wednesday reserved for May 24 its order on the bail plea of Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, named a conspirator in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

Meanwhile, after hearing the arguments on the bail pleas of Asif Balwa and Rajiv B. Agarwal of Kusegaon Realty, Special CBI Judge O.P. Saini said the court will pronounce its verdict on Saturday (May 21).

The CBI has chargesheeted former communications minister A. Raja, his aide R.K. Chandolia, former telecom secretary Siddhartha Behura and Shahid Balwa for conspiring to sell the 2G spectrum waves to select companies at rock-bottom prices.

Later, the probe agency also named DMK leader M. Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi, Kalaignar TV's managing director Sharad Kumar, Cineyug founder Karim Morani, Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal as co-conspirators in the case. Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal was listed as a witness.

Vinod Goenka of Swan Telecom, Sanjay Chandra of Unitech and three officials of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group - Gautam Doshi, Hari Nair and Surendra Pipara - were also named in the chargesheet.

Among the accused, Raja, Chandolia, Behura, Shahid Balwa, Asif Balwa, Agarwal, Goenka, Chandra, Doshi, Nair and Pipara are in judicial custody.