NEW DELHI: Former telecom secretary Sidharth Behura, accused in the 2G spectrum allocation scam, on Wednesday accused his predecessor A K Srivastava of "defending the policy" framed by the then telecom minister A Raja before a special CBI court.
Special CBI judge O P Saini also slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 on a journalist for seeking a direction for CBI to make some telecom companies like Videocon-owned Datacom, S-Tel, Aircel and Maxis as accused in the 2G case.
During the hearing, Behura's counsel Aman Lekhi accused Srivastava, who has been portrayed as a star witness by CBI, of having a larger role in the scam and said Behura was appointed telecom secretary after the decision on policy pertaining to spectrum allocation had been taken.
Arguing on the bail plea. Lekhi said, "It is a paradox of this case that Srivastava, who should be made accused, has been made a star witness." He also accused Raja of making changes in the opinion given by the then solicitor general G E Vahanvati.
Putting the entire blame on Raja for the multi-crore 2G scam, Behura told the court that he could not be held responsible for implementing the government policy. "The prime minister was in the picture, ministry of finance and law ministry were in the picture over the telecom policy and he was not a lone ranger," Lekhi said while pressing for bail.
"If others in the government or the Cabinet are not held responsible, how can a civil servant be made an accused? Raja continued in the Cabinet, which shows he retained the confidence of the prime minister and others," he argued.
Deferring the matter for further arguments for Thursday, judge Saini slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 on a journalist for seeking a direction for CBI to make some more telecom companies accused in the 2G case.
The court warned a warrant would be issued against Mumbai-based journalist Bharat Bhushan Naudial on his failure to deposit the fine within three days. In his plea, the scribe had alleged that some telecom companies were ineligible for the 2G licence and rules were flouted to favour them.
Special CBI judge O P Saini also slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 on a journalist for seeking a direction for CBI to make some telecom companies like Videocon-owned Datacom, S-Tel, Aircel and Maxis as accused in the 2G case.
During the hearing, Behura's counsel Aman Lekhi accused Srivastava, who has been portrayed as a star witness by CBI, of having a larger role in the scam and said Behura was appointed telecom secretary after the decision on policy pertaining to spectrum allocation had been taken.
Arguing on the bail plea. Lekhi said, "It is a paradox of this case that Srivastava, who should be made accused, has been made a star witness." He also accused Raja of making changes in the opinion given by the then solicitor general G E Vahanvati.
Putting the entire blame on Raja for the multi-crore 2G scam, Behura told the court that he could not be held responsible for implementing the government policy. "The prime minister was in the picture, ministry of finance and law ministry were in the picture over the telecom policy and he was not a lone ranger," Lekhi said while pressing for bail.
"If others in the government or the Cabinet are not held responsible, how can a civil servant be made an accused? Raja continued in the Cabinet, which shows he retained the confidence of the prime minister and others," he argued.
Deferring the matter for further arguments for Thursday, judge Saini slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 on a journalist for seeking a direction for CBI to make some more telecom companies accused in the 2G case.
The court warned a warrant would be issued against Mumbai-based journalist Bharat Bhushan Naudial on his failure to deposit the fine within three days. In his plea, the scribe had alleged that some telecom companies were ineligible for the 2G licence and rules were flouted to favour them.
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