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Journalism of Courage
Former Telecom Minister A Raja, accused in the 2G scam, Thursday told a special court that he was not involved in the Rs 200-crore transaction, which as per the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was a bribe given by DB Group company to the DMK-run Kalaignar TV.
Arguing on the bail application filed by Raja as well as on the charges framed in the case, advocate Manu Sharma, who appeared for him, said the DMK leader was earlier granted bail in the CBI’s 2G spectrum allocation case. “I (Raja) am facing trial in a separate (CBI’s) case in 2G spectrum allocation case. I was granted bail in that case and my conduct has been good and I am attending court proceedings by putting my political commitments on the back burner,” Raja’s counsel told Special CBI Judge O P Saini.
His counsel also contended that there was no evidence in the case and it was a “mere coincidence” that he was a member of the DMK party that had planned to start Kalaignar TV.
The ED had filed a chargesheet against 19 accused, including Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi, claiming that the transaction of Rs 200 crore was a “bribe for grant of telecom licences to DB Group companies”.
During the hearing, Raja’s counsel argued that his client had been allowed to depose as a witness to defend himself in the CBI case and if he would be taken into custody, “the whole process of being examined as defence witness will be disrupted.”
During the proceedings, the court also heard arguments advanced by the lawyers representing some of the co-accused in the case.
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